Couple's dream realized as they reopen outback town's only pub

The Yunta Hotel, the sole pub in the South Australian outback town, is back in business thanks to new publicans Jacki and Rob Williams. The establishment had closed a couple of months prior, leaving locals without their central meeting place.

“

I always had the dream of doing it. I've had no experience at all and I'm learning the hard way.

The Williams couple, who managed the Peterborough Caravan Park for six years, have embraced the challenge of running the 127-year-old Yunta Hotel. Rob Williams admitted to learning on the job, having no prior experience in pub management, while Jacki brought some experience from a previous role at a historic hotel.

“

This one came up and we liked it.

Since moving to Yunta, located about 320 kilometers north of Adelaide, the couple has felt a strong sense of community support. "We have been welcomed with open arms," Jacki said, describing the community as "wonderful." She shared an emotional moment on Saturday night when locals expressed their joy at having the pub operational again.

“

We have been welcomed with open arms. The community are just wonderful … [on] Saturday night I got teared up because everyone's going, 'It's great to have the local back up and running', because it had been closed.

The Yunta Hotel is now open seven days a week. While the historic building required some renovations, including plumbing updates, the new owners have been busy serving a steady stream of trucks, trains, and travelers. The reopening is a significant boost for the town, with the Yunta Post Office manager noting frequent inquiries about the pub's status and its importance for both residents and tourists.

“

Nearly every day I will have someone asking if the pub's going to be open. It is a very important part of the town, a very important business not only for us but for tourists as well and our image.