Family breathe new life into Toompine Pub

From the bustle of carpentry work to a busy coffee shop to School of Distance Education lessons, there's not a wasted moment as the Bond family carve out a future at the pub without a town.

Lauren and Sean Bond and their two children, Izzy and Blair, moved out in January and have hit the ground running as repair work continues to restore the pub.

Mrs Bond grew up at Merrie Downs with her parents Stu and Kate Bowen and taking on the Toompine Pub has always been a possibility.

"All through my whole childhood, every time it came up for sale or for lease, it was always 'do we? don't we?'" she said.

"My mum's great aunt bought the pub in the 1940s, it was passed down in her family and then the Houghton family, who are very well known and loved in the district, bought it in 1975."

Once the Bonds moved away from Quilpie to Toowoomba several years ago, Stu Bowen knew the lure of Toompine Pub would be enough to draw his daughter back out west.

"He said, 'if I could get Toompine, would you come home?' Two years later he said, 'I've got Toompine for us, time to come home," Mrs Bond said.

"I really missed my family when we were away and it's something special that we can do this together."

While the youngest members of the family were asked about how they felt about moving back out to the Quilpie region, it wasn't a hard sell.

"They would have sacrificed their extracurricular activities but of course the extracurriculars out here won them over...the motorbike riding and adventuring out in the bush," Mrs Bond said.

"They are bush kids at heart and Bondy and I are bush people too... home always wins at the end of the day. You never know how long you've got with your family, so I thought I would jump at it while I could."

The Bowens bought the pub three months before COVID-19 hit Australia hard in March last year, prompting them to close for repairs. Initially the family had just planned to do the kitchen, but white ant damage and the need for new wiring meant it made sense to close for longer.

That revamp includes an open verandah on the front, the addition of a bigger dining area and accommodation.

There will also be beer on tap at the Toompine Pub for the first time from July, with limited single accommodation available around the same time. Family accommodation is also in the pipeline.

Mr Bond, a carpenter by trade who grew up in the Thargomindah area, was busy putting the pieces of the pub back together though COVID-19 which meant some challenges getting all the necessary building supplies.

Mrs Bond worked with Queensland Health for 10 years but prior to that worked in hospitality, experience that has her well equipped for the job ahead.

"When Dad bought the pub, we were actually home so I got to take it over and help Dad out for three weeks, help him settle in," she said.

"I knew then this was my calling... it was my happy place."

A new tennis court has taken shape thanks to funding from the Quilpie Shire Council with talk of a local tennis club. There are also plans for a new golf course.

"We are so lucky to have a really supportive community, everyone is just eager to have it open," Mrs Bond said.