The Majors Creek Hotel is a great spot for a day trip. Photo: Tenele Conway.
If you’ve ever daydreamed about swapping your city commute or dull desk job for a life slinging schooners in a country pub, then you might want to take a look at a property that’s just hit the market.
The Majors Creek Hotel, just 16 km from Braidwood, is heading to auction on 29 May, offering a rare chance to take ownership of an early 20th-century pub that’s not just ticking along, but already drawing a crowd.
The pub carries more than a century of history. Originally known as the Elrington Hotel, the current building dates back to 1913, replacing an earlier version across the road that was built in 1856 and sadly burnt down.
It last changed hands in 2021, when Braidwood locals Jackie Parsons and Rowan Clark took it on and set about shaping it into the lively, family-friendly venue it is today.
Real estate agent Brian McManus got a first-hand look over the recent Easter long weekend, staying in the property’s converted train carriage accommodation and watching the pub in full swing.
Over a few days, he reckons he saw at least 1000 schooners poured and around 500 meals served.
“Kids were running around, there was live music, it’s a great family pub, that type of place doesn’t come onto the market often,” Brian tells Region.
Brian McManus Real Estate will be auctioning the pub at the Intercontinental Hotel in Double Bay. Photo: Brian McManus Real Estate.
According to Brian, interest in buying the pub has already come from across the region, with locals, Canberrans and Sydney-based buyers all circling.
While the pub itself sits in a quiet pocket of the Southern Tablelands, the auction will play out in a very different setting at the Intercontinental Hotel at Double Bay in Sydney.
It’s a world away from Majors Creek, but Brian says the choice is deliberate and holding the auction in a controlled environment means only serious buyers are in the room, allowing him to see exactly who’s bidding and keep the process tight.
Back in Majors Creek, the groundwork has already been done to make the business an attractive proposition.
In preparation for the sale, the current owners have replaced the roof and Brian says significant investment has also gone into the commercial kitchen, which is ready for the bustling weekend trade the pub attracts.
That weekend trade is a key part of the sale. With visitors regularly making the trip from Braidwood, Canberra and beyond, the pub has carved out a reputation as a destination rather than just a local watering hole.
There’s plenty of spots to pull up a pew at the Majors Creek Hotel. Photo: Supplied.
Since taking over, the owners have built up a calendar that keeps people coming back, including the annual woodchop event launched in 2024, which has already proven its worth by taking out the 2025 Braidwood Event of the Year Award from Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional Council and drawing crowds from around the region.
There’s also the Majors Creek Folk Festival, which sees the tiny town swell as music lovers roll in, giving the pub one of its busiest periods of the year.
It’s not just about events. The listing includes multiple accommodation options that add another revenue stream, including three double bedrooms offered to guests, plus the converted train carriage that can sleep up to 15 people.
Across the road, an additional parcel of land comes with the sale, complete with a covered stage that’s already being used for live music and larger gatherings.
And whilst the town itself has a population of around 300 people, there’s also the presence of the nearby Dargues Gold Mine, with workers moving in and out of the area, helping to underpin the local population.
For details on the sale, head to Brian McManus Real Estate.
