Fishery Falls Hotel, (Fishery Falls, QLD)


Reviewed on 4 September 2009 by Mike Lee and Hamish Withington

This pub was reviewed because of an opportunity provided by Hamish’s car breaking down while he was doing a review of the El Arish Pub. I had to go to Innisfail to rescue him, so it seemed like a great idea to do a couple of pubs on the way back to Cairns.

The first thing that you notice about the Fishery Falls hotel is the abundance of signs discouraging casual travellers from using the toilets. I also noticed that a new patio area had been built out the front ( a haven for the smokers) and it’s construction seems to have caused the removal of an old toilet bowl that used to occupy that spot. This was once used as a method of reinforcing the policy of not using the inside toilets, by inviting casual travellers to use the exposed convenience. Anyway suffice to say, as you enter, it is not the most welcoming of environments.

But quickly getting over the initial impression, it was up to the bar and a round of drinks were ordered. The bar was empty save for the reviewers (and barmaid) – with the rest of the customers out on the new patio. It was

therefore difficult to gauge the atmosphere of the place, but this gave the bar and lounge area a sense of spaciousness. Importantly the beer was good and especially cold.

The barmaid was friendly but not overly informed about the history of the place, or any of the myths and legends that make some of the pubs stand out from the others. She was able to tell us that the pub is the second such building to occupy the site, the original having burned down sometime in the past. Having heard similar stories about other pubs, I think this might be a recurring theme in coming reviews.

The Fishery Fallls pub is not a bad pub. It was my second visit there, and on reflection, my earlier visit probably gave a more favourable impression of the place. I get the impression they would enjoy more of the passing trade that is on the highway, and I would be happy to oblige in the future

The view of the bar obstructed by a pot of gold

A general View of the bar

Labouring the Point

  1. #1 by Shane Harper on 12 April, 2014 - 8:19 pm

    Hi there, I was just wondering if anybody would remember the night of New Years Eve 2009/2010 at The Fishery falls Hotel, I have been trying to remember the name of the Band that played there that night. Any info would be VERY much appreciated. Thank you in advance.

  2. #2 by Trev on 3 October, 2016 - 4:15 pm

    We stopped by this hotel on the the way home from Josephine falls today to get lunch and a cold beer. Beer was ice cold, reasonable price too, but when it came to the meal well you could have grown a beard waiting for it to arrive. It took from 1.30 to 2.30pm to make a fish and chips and a bacon & egg sandwich and there was only about 20 people there. Would be nice if they told you b4 you order that this was the wait time. Food was okay I guess when it did finally come.

  3. #3 by Greg on 3 April, 2017 - 4:11 pm

    This is a great pub if you want a BURNT Chicken Scnitzel and overcooked chips. And to go with that an adamnent statement by the manager that we always eat our scnitzels like that. Me I won’t be eating or drinking anything at this joint again. And I would whole heartedly recommend that no-one else does either. The Caravan Park adjacent (nt owned or operated by the rude buggers from the Pub) is a great stop over. Clean and cheerful. The Pub, clean and very dowdy, and burnt tucker.

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