Innamincka Hotel is a stop over for pastoral workers with the addition of everyday travellers, blokes on fishing/camping trips, mining contractors, tour groups, truckies, and international explorers to name a few.

The front bar is barely unchanged from the 70’s with walls of history and photos dating back to the early 1900’s plus endless memorabilia to view. The bar menu is hearty with our Steak Sandwiches and OBE Organic Burgers being the talk of the outback. With eight icy cold beers on tap and an impressive bottled selection, whether you sit inside the pub or venture out to the front benches under the big sky, you are sure to hear some great yarns and meet new friends.

The new “Outamincka” was recently described by a traveller as “The Taj Mahal” of the outback with its striking contrast of corrugated mini orb, spotted gum beams, teak furniture and wood finishes throughout. With its own kitchen and char grill the steaks are memorable as are the fresh shuck yourself Whyalla oysters.

Join the crowds for the famous “Sunday Roast Night” or on Wednesday nights “The Outback Chase” a Hearty Homemade Beef & Lamb or Chicken Pie and glass of South Australian Outback Chase Merlot or if you prefer “The Pie and Pint” Imperial pint of James Squire’s Golden Ale.

History
In the early days the pub was a stopover for shearers who, believe it or not, rode their push bikes to woolsheds up and down the Strzelecki Track. It's also been a watering hole for those who've broken down and have had to call it quits. And in a sense that's what happened to the town and it's original hotel last century. Depression and sand drifts closed the track and it's 1880s pub. Now the old ruins and the bottle heap provide a talking point for drinkers in the new hotel.

Originally called Hopetown, Innamincka was proclaimed a township in 1890. The town was never very large, but had a hotel, a store and a police station which acted as customs post for collecting duties on cattle brought overland from Queensland into South Australia. In 1928 the Australian Inland Mission (a part of the Royal Flying Doctor Service of Australia) built a hospital here, the Elizabeth Symon Nursing Home. Severe drought and poor access to the settlement resulted in the closure of the hotel and the hospital. In 1951 the police post closed and the town was abandoned.

Increased tourism and discovery of gas and oil reserves in the late 1960s led to the formation of Cooper Creek Hotel Motel Pty Ltd, who opened a hotel, a store and accommodation in the abandoned town. In 1994 the Elizabeth Symon Nursing Home was restored by Dick Smith and Australian Geographic and used as an interpretive centre for South Australian Parks and Wildlife.