WA’s “Kangaroo Pub”, The John Forrest Tavern, Looks Set To Close Next Month
As far as Western Australian icons go the John Forrest Tavern is right up there.
The beloved pub, where kangaroos pour you beers*, has been a hit with locals and visitors from around the world, with abundant wildlife making up the fabric of the place while visitors enjoy a cold beer and meal following a day exploring John Forrest National Park.
Sadly enjoying a beer while watching kangaroos lay about will soon be a thing of the past, with the tavern’s license expiring next week, and the $8.4 million John Forrest National Park Improvement Project set to commence redeveloping the area.
Given the park’s proximity to Perth, and general awesomeness, it’s popularity has boomed in recent years, however little has been done to improve its facilities to account for the influx of visitors.
The improvement project looks to solve some of those issues, but it will unfortunately be at the expense of the tavern, also known as the Wildflower Tavern, when it makes way for a new park hub with a café and interpretation space, improvements to existing picnic areas, gardens, carparking, and improved walking and new off-road cycling trails.
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As recently as April, Shire Of Mundaring councillors had voted unanimously to write to the State Government and the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA) to reconsider closing the pub, which will make way for more parking, with food trucks to service visitors in the interim.
It comes as a change.org petition to save the Tavern reaches almost 20,000 signatures, urging the McGowan Government, the DBC and Kalamunda MLA Matthew Hughes to offer a long-term lease extension for the beloved tavern, and “guarantee its future within John Forrest Naitional Park.”
We’ll keep you posted if there are any further developments.
Header Image: Nick Stewart
*As far as we know no kangaroos have actually poured a pint at the John Forrest Tavern