Father's Day in Morven was extra special this year, when the whole community was able to get together and toast not only the difference that dads make but the town's rebuilt hotel.
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Named Sadleir's Waterhole, after the nearby waterhole in Hamburg Creek of the same name, the new hotel replaces the Morven Hotel Motel that was destroyed by fire in April 2016.
It's been made possible by a co-operative of eight families with connections to the south western community and on Sunday they hosted a 'Dads on the Deck' afternoon in preparation for the much-anticipated opening on Monday morning.
According to spokeswoman Louise Winten, the 70 bookings taken showed just how much the community had missed having a social hub to come together at.
"People, especially after the four years of drought, loved having a meeting place again, being able to get back together again," she said.
They were full of admiration for the homestead-style building with open-air verandahs and expansive front turf settling in, and admired the bar top made from the timber of the rare Ooline tree that features in the nearby Tregole National Park.
Ms Winten said there had been lots of local involvement, including the logo designed by Corinne Whip and incorporated into metal art by Marshall McDonald.
"Everyone's worked really well together and our builder, Chris Hart Transportable Homes from Chinchilla, another of our partners, has been fantastic," she said.
One of the hotel's features is a glycol tap system, where beverages are kept at a constant temperature from the keg to the beer tap, which Ms Winten said all the boys in the group were adamant about.
"We've got six taps and we'll have Great Northern and Fourex, but we'll have a few floating taps of different things at the moment," she said. "We've got alcoholic ginger beer on but we'll try different things."
The liquor licence, which had been suspended for the 4.5 years since the hotel fire, was approved last Friday, and the group has been busy getting the necessary building, kitchen and workplace approvals, as well as the training needed to serve alcohol and meals.
"None of us have any experience but we're going to give it a go," Ms Winten said. "We're all helping out, being glassies and cleaners."
Two of the group's partners, Andrew and Leanne McInerney, are managing the hotel while another partner, Cathy Burey is the cook.
For the first week, while they find their feet, they'll only be offering evening meals but expect to have lunches as well after that, seven days a week.
Read more: New Morven Hotel taking shape
The move to save the fabric of the town was given a positive vote at Monday's hard opening, with people from Charleville and Wallumbilla among those waiting for the doors to open at 10am, along with a number of tourists in the area.
While they weren't open last Friday when the Long Drive for Drought crew stopped in for a preview, Ms Winten said the South West Ulysses Motorcycle Club had booked in next week for lunch.
She said it was exciting to think they were on people's radar from all around.
"It's a great reason to come and visit Morven - we've got a grocery store back, a motel next door, and two camping grounds.
Sally Gall
Based at Blackall, CW Qld, where I've raised a family, run Merino sheep and beef cattle, and helped develop a region - its history, tourism, education and communications. Get in touch at 0427 575 955 if you've got a story idea for me.
Based at Blackall, CW Qld, where I've raised a family, run Merino sheep and beef cattle, and helped develop a region - its history, tourism, education and communications. Get in touch at 0427 575 955 if you've got a story idea for me.
