Iconic Aussie Outback Pubs I've visited - Mt DARE HOTEL (South Australia)

Pubs in Australia has, over the years, become an important part of the landscape and more so the pubs in the outback. Those that stood the test of time has become icons with each pub unique in its own right.

As in the cities, outback pubs are where the locals meet and it is also a wonderful place for travellers​ to quench their thirsts from the outback heat and dust.

For me, as I travel through this land, it is my quest to get to know as much about the locality as possible so I become part of the land than being just a tourist. To do this there is no better place than a visit to the local pub and spending some time with the locals.

To those who haven't been to Australia, our land area is 7.6 million sq kms (2.9 million sq miles) with a human population of only 24 million. This will give you an idea of the number of people per square km/mile. Since almost all our cities are along the coastal line, much of the outback (desert country) is sparsely populated. Some of the outback towns are as remote as they can get. Most of them servicing the cattle stations (Cattle ranches) whilst some used to act as service points for the telegraph lines/railway lines. It is the pure resilience​ of the people of these towns that have​ ensured the survival of these amazing little outback towns even to this date.

For the benefit of my international followers/readers, ​I will do a more detailed blog post of how remote and vast the Australian outback is in another post.
Post now available at https://steemit.com/travel/@overlandjournals/vastness-of-australia-for-overlanding

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Mt DARE HOTEL (South Australia)

Mt Dare Hotel is lone pub located in the middle of no where on the western edge of the Simpson Desert in South Australia. 10km (6mi) south of the (state of) Northern Territory border. It is ideally located for those travelling​ through the outback to Alice Springs, Ayers Rock, Simpson Desert or Dalhousie Springs. The nearest​ town is about 700km away.

Initially, Mt Dare was a cattle station which became part of Witjira Nationa Park in 1989 when the homestead became no longer needed.

In 2002 the old station kitchen was turned into the pub, however, in 2004 the pub was moved to an old machinery shed, where Mt Dare Hotel is today. So you could say the pub came into existence in 2002. Though only 15 years in age, the shed in which the pub has been built along with the rest of the buildings making up the pub property is a lot older, full of history.

The current owners of the Mt Dare hotel are Graham and Sandra Scott who with their family run the pub. It is an all family affair and the personal attention they provide to all those visiting the pub is quite a welcome experience to all travellers​.

All outback pubs have some form of memorabilia lining the walls and ceilings, at Mt Dare Hotel it is stubbie holders (drinks can holders) and stickers left behind by travellers​. These hang from the roof whilst the walls are lined with pictures from the years gone by.

As I sat in this iconic pub, my mind cast back to the days when it must have been a thriving cattle station homestead. As the saying goes, if only the walls could talk. With my thoughts wondering, I had to ask Graham where the name Mount Dare came from. Not having seen any mountains in the region, my curiosity got the better of me. Graham was not quite sure how the name came about. He, however, felt the area was named after a well-respected gentleman who lived in the area a long time ago. Fact or folklore I am yet to find out. The mystery kind of added to the charm of this iconic hotel for me.

Live life to the fullest, it's too short to procrastinate​!
Duncan Udawatta

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