The Northern Territory Liquor Commission has suspended the liquor license for the Barrow Creek Hotel, a remote establishment situated approximately 280 kilometers north of Alice Springs. The suspension follows a decision made by the commission in December of the previous year, citing multiple breaches of Northern Territory liquor licensing laws. While one source indicates the suspension has been in effect since January 1, another reports an effective date of January 1, 2026. Publican Les Pilton, who has operated the hotel since 1988, is required to meet specific conditions for the license to be reinstated.
Hotel Background and Significance
The Barrow Creek Hotel, operational for over 90 years, holds historical significance as the last known location where British backpacker Peter Falconio was seen alive in 2001 before his murder. It serves as the sole fuel and rest stop within a 200-kilometer stretch of the Stuart Highway, located between Ti Tree and the Devils Marbles. The hotel is also the only accessible liquor outlet for residents in the remote communities of Wilora and Tara. Barrow Creek itself lacks government-provided utilities, with Mr. Pilton responsible for maintaining power, water, and sewage disposal for the locality.
Commission Findings
The NT Liquor Commission addressed ten grounds of complaint against the hotel, upholding eight of them. Commission chairperson Russell Goldflam stated that the accumulation of factors indicated a "longstanding, chronic failure to maintain the premises in accordance with prescribed standards." Key issues identified by liquor inspectors included:
- Unauthorised Alcohol Supply: Alcohol was supplied to patrons outside the designated licensed area. This included serving Indigenous customers through a hatchway at the bar's end while they were outside.
- Welfare Payment Breaches: A "long-standing arrangement" allowed regular customers, including local Aboriginal station workers, to pre-pay for full-strength beer using SmartCards issued by Services Australia, part of an income management program. These customers could purchase and consume up to nine beers per day through this system.
- Lack of Services: Meals, complimentary tap water, and fuel were not consistently available to patrons or travellers.
- Premises Maintenance: Female toilet facilities were found to be in poor condition, with issues such as broken windows, exposed wiring, and a non-functional hand dryer. Adverse reports by environmental health officers regarding pollution and waste management were also noted.
- Administrative Failures: The hotel failed to maintain a functional computer system or respond to emails from regulatory bodies.
- Unlicensed Staff: The hotel operated with unlicensed staff serving alcohol, specifically a man referred to as Lachlan, who did not possess a responsible service of alcohol certificate.
The commission concluded that Mr. Pilton was "not a fit and proper person" to hold the liquor license.
Operator's Evidence and Commission's Assessment
During the public hearing, inspectors Amber James, Holly Sowerby, and Leticia Da Costa provided evidence described as "impressive," largely supported by written records and audio-visual recordings. Conversely, Mr. Pilton's evidence was characterized by the commission as "riddled with assertions and claims that were either demonstrably false or patently unbelievable" by one source, and "often evasive, inconsistent, argumentative or non-responsive" and lacking "candour" by another.
Despite these findings, the commission also acknowledged certain mitigating factors:
- Mr. Pilton's long tenure of 37 years as licensee and his experience in running a remote establishment.
- His "close and apparently effective relationship with local drinkers," with his "unorthodox trading arrangements" appearing to "moderate the excessive and harmful use of alcohol."
- Reports from local police indicating minimal alcohol-related issues in recent months.
- Mr. Pilton's crucial role in maintaining essential utilities for the Barrow Creek locality.
Regarding the practice of serving through a hatchway, evidence indicated it had been in use prior to Mr. Pilton's ownership in 1988, with Mr. Pilton citing reasons related to dress standards and preference for outdoor consumption. An inspector also testified that Mr. Pilton stated it was "not his fault the ‘Abo’s’ take [liquor] outside the licensed area to consume it," a statement unchallenged in cross-examination.
Conditions for License Reinstatement
To have the Barrow Creek Hotel's liquor license reinstated, Mr. Pilton must fulfill several requirements:
- Upgrading the hotel's toilet and kitchen facilities.
- Installing a kitchen, obtaining a certificate for serving food, and employing a cook.
- Expanding the licensed area to encompass an outdoor shaded section, which must be brought up to code and properly fenced.
- Establishing a single email address for liquor licensing communications, accessible via a functional mobile telephone and computer, and demonstrating the ability to respond to emails from Licensing NT or the commission within 48 hours.
- Providing monthly reports to the regulator.
Mr. Pilton has confirmed his intention to comply with these requirements and reopen the Barrow Creek Hotel once the conditions are met.