Walloon Hotel

The historic Walloon Hotel exudes country charm and hospitality just a few minutes from Ipswich City. It’s not unusual for locals to arrive on horse-back and tie up out the front. The menu showcases quality local produce sourced and served in generous portions in a restaurant that spills out to undercover outdoor decks.

Publican Stewart Gibson and his wife Katie moved from Cairns to take over the hotel, formerly known as the Walloon Saloon, for the family-owned Gibson Group. Their emphasis is on providing a welcoming family-friendly and affordable dining experience. There’s a $12 lunch menu available weekdays and dinner specials from Monday to Thursday. Wednesday night, for example, is steak night where you can score a Black Angus rump for $16.

“It’s so country,” Stewart says, of the town of Walloon. “And yet you’re just eight minutes out of the city and 40 minutes from Brisbane.”

There’s a rodeo at the hotel every July, a steady stream of live touring musicians playing throughout the year and Friday night raffles with about $1200 worth of prizes given away every week.