Red tape will not stop beer flowing at the Betoota Hotel - for two days at least

“If I’d have known then, before I bought the hotel, how many hurdles would be put in my way, I would never have done it. It’s been so tough, much tougher than I ever imagined.”

The Betoota Hotel is the only building on the lonely 400-kilometre stretch of dirt road between Birdsville and Windorah, situated on the windswept gibber plains, close to the start of the Simpson Desert.

Mr Haken had planned for a grand relaunch of the pub that has been shut for decades but, because of the difficulties obtaining a liquor licence, will have a low-key reopening in the meantime, on Friday and Sunday, with a much bigger party when the full licence finally comes through.

The pub’s owner Robert Haken. Photo: Supplied

Many others had looked at buying the hotel, but decided it was far too isolated to operate, especially as it has no phone line and no internet access, and only a satellite phone to rely on for communication with the outside world.

But Mr Haken, 56, who owns a smash repair business in Logan, Brisbane, is made of sterner stuff and purchased the legendary 97-year-old pub earlier this year, after it had been closed for 21 years.

Already, he’s had to postpone his re-opening once, and missed out on one of the biggest weekends of the year, when about 9000 visitors poured past the pub on their way to July’s Big Red Bash outdoor concert just outside Birdsville. But he’s determined not to miss the other big events coming up.

With the Betoota Races to be held on Saturday August 25, he’s managed to open the pub on Friday, August 24, for a charity day at which he has a special seven-hour licence starting at 11.30am.

The Betoota Hotel in the 1990s. Photo: Robert Haken

“We’ll be doing a fundraiser for drought relief for the farmers and for the Australian Anti-Ice Campaign that educates kids about the dangers of ice,” said Mr Haken, who also runs sheep and cattle at Glenmorgan, about 400 kilometres west of Brisbane.

“Of course, we could receive the [permanent] licence on August 23, but no one seems to be able to tell us when it’ll happen. The wheels of bureaucracy turn very slowly.

“Then on the Sunday, we’re having another fundraiser for drought relief so we’ll have another seven-hour licence for that day too [from midday to 7pm].”

From then on, Mr Haken plans to keep the pub’s doors open selling food, petrol and souvenirs until the permanent liquor licence arrives. The next big event in the area is the Birdsville Races, from August 31 to September 1.

Tourists have been excited at the prospect of the pub opening again, and have been dropping in with good wishes, donations to help fund the work, and souvenir hats and stubby-holders from previous visits.

“She’s now looking a picture,” Mr Haken said. “We’ve been working on her since Christmas and everyone’s done a wonderful job.

“But unfortunately we’re still having to battle with the authorities over the licence which is absolutely ridiculous. For all the money I’ve spent on consultants to help, I could have built a whole new pub!