Outback Pub Loses License: A Dry Spell for Remote Australia

Effective January 1, 2026, the Barrow Creek Hotel, a historic outback establishment, has had its liquor license suspended by the Northern Territory Liquor Commission. This decision follows a hearing that upheld eight out of ten grounds of complaint against its long-term publican, 76-year-old Les Pilton, who has operated the pub for 37 years.

Complaints included serving Indigenous customers through a hatchway using government-issued income management cards, thereby circumventing welfare spending restrictions on alcohol. Additionally, the commission cited failures in maintaining basic facilities such as toilets and a lack of essential services like meals and drinking water. Pilton's evidence was often found to be evasive and inconsistent by the commission.

To regain his license, Pilton must address significant requirements, including upgrading the premises, fencing an outdoor area, improving toilets and the kitchen, hiring a cook, and establishing reliable communication channels with licensing authorities. The hotel's historical significance and Pilton's unique role in managing remote utilities were considered, but ultimately, the commission deemed him unfit to hold the license.