ERROL PARKER | Editor-at-large | Contact
A country publican has committed to installing a corrugated iron bar in his establishment, declaring it “simply unbeatable” after seeing similar designs across the region and the country.
Barry McAllister, owner of the Farmer’s Overdraft Hotel on our town’s outskirts, said he had observed the style in pubs throughout rural Australia but only recently came to fully appreciate its appeal.
“I’ve been to plenty of pubs with corrugated iron bars, but this one just made sense,” McAllister said.
“It looks right, it feels right, and I’ll be putting it in my pub immediately. It can’t be beat, it’s both practical and stylish. Modern, clean. Also very cheap. So it ticks all the boxes, cob.”
Corrugated iron, commonly used for roofing and sheds, has become a standard feature in renovated country pubs, often chosen to reinforce a rustic, outback aesthetic. The material, sometimes referred to as mini ripple iron sheeting, is marketed for cladding and decoration, but has found widespread use as bar frontage in hospitality venues.
McAllister said the decision was driven by both durability, familiarity and looks.
“I thought, fuck me dead, that just looks so damn hot. I just had to put it in my pub. The bar there now is almost a 100 years old. Can’t wait to take it to the tip, to be honest.” he said.
The trend has been particularly prominent in regional Australia, where publicans often seek to balance modern renovations with traditional design elements. Hotels across Queensland, New South Wales, and Western Australia have adopted similar features, incorporating the material alongside timber beams, pressed metal ceilings, and heritage signage.
While some patrons have raised concerns about comfort, particularly the risk of leaning on an uneven surface, McAllister dismissed any drawbacks.
“If it was a problem, people wouldn’t keep using it,” he said.
“But look, I won’t be letting people cover the walls in all that corny bogan shit like fucken banknotes from some shithole country like America or Europe. Letting women hang their bras from the ceiling. Christ almighty, have some self respect, would ya? Fucken old tools, bits of fucken wire, fucking gross. Either have pictures of sporting teams, maps, paintings, form guides, menus or fucken windows. Shits me.”
Installation at the Farmer’s Overdraft is expected to be completed within weeks.
More to come.
