Standing proudly on the corner of Edmond and Queen Streets since 1881, the Marburg Hotel is more than a pub — it’s the beating heart of the town.
A heritage landmark
The Marburg Hotel was originally built in early 1881 as a single-storey timber pub for German immigrant Wiegand Raabe, a farmer who had previously held a publican’s licence at Walloon. When it first opened its doors, Raabe offered the usual range of hotel hospitality, but also ran race meetings and various sports on the adjoining land — quickly making the hotel the hub of the district’s social life.
Raabe died just two years later in 1883, and the license was renewed by his widow Augusta Raabe, who later married Marburg storekeeper and carpenter Otto Sakrzewski. The Sakrzewski family held the license until 1921. The distinctive second storey was added around 1890, giving the hotel the striking two-storey timber form with its wraparound double-height verandahs that still grace the streetscape today.
It has operated continuously as a hotel since 1881, and has been Marburg’s sole pub since 1947. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 21 October 1992 and is also listed by the National Trust.
“Quite the staple of the town.”
— a local
A filming location and a family business
In 1985 the hotel stood in as the fictional “Cedar Creek Hotel” in the Australian film The Settlement, starring Bill Kerr and John Jarratt. Since around 1944, the hotel has been operated by the Bowden family, who acquired the freehold in 1986.
What to expect today
Push through the doors and you’ll find a warm, welcoming country pub — exactly the kind of place where the chef knows the regulars by name and the restaurant is regularly filled for family birthdays, Sunday lunches and weekend catch-ups. The wide verandah is a perfect spot to stop for a cold drink on a warm Queensland afternoon.
Find it
Marburg Hotel
Corner of Edmond & Queen Streets, Marburg QLD 4346
For opening hours, menus and bookings, please contact the hotel directly or visit their Facebook page.
Note: This page provides general historical and visitor information. Opening hours, menus and ownership details can change — please always contact the hotel directly to confirm before visiting.