THE TOWN of Mungallala is named after an aboriginal word meaning “food and water.”

It’s fitting then, that even though it has a population of just 50 people, this little town boasts a great pub where you can relax over a meal and a drink six nights a week.
The Mungallala Club Hotel has been helping the town live up to its name for the past 90 years and has the relaxed, comfortable feeling that goes hand in glove with being a genuine old-style country pub. Traditional heritage colours of cream, maroon and green remind you that this building is well on its way to its century.

Owners Bruce and Margaret Beale are well known locally, and seem to have the happy knack of making newcomers feel like they’ve visited before.

The evening meals could be described as “good country cooking” and steak with vegetables is a perennial favourite.

Enjoy the atmosphere as you relax. Memorabilia can be found around the walls, a reminder of the rural industry that has kept this small town alive. You’ll see everything from bridles and saddle trees to old ironwork.

The hotel is air conditioned and has hotel room accommodation (with shared facilities). For those towing their own vans, there is a caravan park section out the back. There is also a pool and barbecue area.

It’s all rather laidback - except on footy nights. For events like State of Origin competitions, the pub has special nights where it doesn’t matter what colour jersey you support, you’ll have a great night.
Mungallala is in the middle of sheep and cattle country, primary industries that have been going in the region since the early 1860s. It is also well known for its cypress pine mill, established in 1955 and serving both local and international markets. More recently, the game meat industry has helped the area’s economy.

While in town you might like to visit the library, which has public internet facilities.

Nature lovers will make a point of seeing the rare ooline trees in this district. These grow in only two places in the world – Australia and Siberia – and are believed to be relics from the ice age.

Other kinds of trees growing in the area include gum, cypress, brigalow, mulga, wilga, box, ironbark, belah and bottle tree sandalwood. If you’re a birdwatcher, you may see kookaburras, magpies, butcher birds, willie wagtails, finches, wrens, pelicans, brolgas, swans, Major Mitchell cockatoos, galahs and parrots.

While in the district, you may also notice a fence that seems to go on forever. This is the dingo barrier fence, the longest fence in the world.