Tales and Times of the Billi Pub

The original Pub in Billinudgel

The original Pub in Billinudgel was built in 1892 to accompany the arrival of the railway siding. The first rail line waslight gauge to bring in the workers and materials for the main line so the Pub was named the Tramway Hotel. The Tramway burn't down in 1898, was rebuilt, burn't down again in 1906 and was again rebuilt by 1907.

In 1914 the Tramway Hotel hotel was renamed the New Brighton following a Public Meeting. It was thought that by naming the Pub after the new seaside village just up the road, the Pub would become known as the gateway to what was expected to become a popular marine paradise. It was hoped people would get off the train at the Pub to get there.

In 1916 the licence was taken over by a Mr Parker who got off on the wrong foot with the locals by forgetting to renew his liquor licence in time for Christmas. The editor of the Mullumbimby Star commented at the time "Mr Parkers situation is a sad one and the hills between Billinudgel and Mullumbimby will be trampled flat before January" (cartoon Mullumbimby Star)

Pubobilia

Painting - 1987 floods
There were many licensees up until 1929 when Mrs Margaret Ring
"Mar Ring" arrived after having been a partner in a Hotel in Barcaldine. She continued as licensee untill her death in 1893 aged 101. Find out more about the Mar Ring Story and her national acclaim.

After 1983 the licence went to her neice Marge Barnham and had been leased for 15 years by Barry and jan O'Donnell. Ken Barnham, the great nephew of Mar Ring is the current owner and Licensee

Did You know?

By the turn of the century Billinudgel was a booming town with a confident future. Such was the optimism of the local community that when sites were being considered for the construction of a new national capital, then situated in Melbourne, the local progress association generously offered Billinudgel as a site.

This offer history shows us was unfortunately declined.