There are many places to drop in and explore in the area between Warwick and Toowoomba in Queensland’s Southern Country region. Rudd’s Pub in the small town of Nobby is a must, especially if you want to fit in a pub meal and a beer.
Rudd’s Pub is a country pub built in 1893, previously known as the Davenporter Hotel. The town of Nobby was named Davenport until it was renamed ing the 1960s.
The pub was renamed to Rudd’s Pub in the 1980s after the author Steele Rudd who wrote the famous Dad and Dave’s stories. Steele Rudd Selection, the boyhood home of Steele Rudd is a few kilometres away.
Dad and Dave from Snake Gully was a radio drama show starting in the 1930s through to the 1950s, based on Steele Rudd’s On Our Selection stories.
Inside the pub, the walls and ceiling are adorned with memorabilia and local history, including a section relating to Dad and Dave. An uncommon discovery is a brown sign for Rudd’s Pub, inside the pub itself hanging above the bar.
The Heritage Lounge has photos and memorabilia on the walls where folklore tells of Steele Rudd used to sit white writing his famouse Dad and Dave stories.
Not everything on the walls is historical. For example, there is Hally Herrmann’s weather predictions for 2019 based on onions. Known as the ‘Onion Oracle’, Herrmann predicts the weather on New Year’s Eve by using an onion.
The predictions for 2019 were as following:
- January – Dry
- February – Rain – Fairly Good
- March – Rain – Fairly Good
- April – Rain – Some
- May – Rain – Some
- June – Dry
- July – Some Rain
- August – Better Rain
- September – Mainly Dry
- October – Mainly Dry
- November – Good Rain
- December – Fairly Dry
- No Flood Rain This Year
Coming to the pub mid-January, the first month already looked like a safe bet, with everywhere we had been being very dry. Looking at Bureau of Meteorology records for Toowoomba (35km north of Nobby), January January had 4.8mm of rain.
April has just ended as I’m writing for this brown sign, so we can see how the predictions go for a few more months:
- January – 4.8mm – average 132.1mm – accurate prediction
- February – 19.4mm – average 121.1mm – prediction not accurate
- March – 199.4mm – average 94.6mm – accurate predication
- April – 11.2mm – average 61.9mm – prediction not accurate
For the first 2 months, the predictions are about 50%. It may have been a dodgy onion or I may be misinterpreting the predictions. Some rain could be anything over 10mm and good rain over 100mm.
The locals at the bar and the barman were only too happy to have a chat. They helped me to locate a couple of brown signs I couldn’t work out, in particular where to find the Original Lutheran Church Site, which proved to be quite elusive.
Across the road there is free camping for motor homes and caravans at the disused train station. Power is available by paying a donation. Public toilets, playground, and BBQs are near the free camp area.
The nearby Sister Kenny Memorial also has information about Steele Rudd, in addition to Sister Kenny who played a big role in the way Polio was treated in the early 1900s.
To get there:
From Toowoomba, head south on the New England Hwy towards Warwick. After leaving Toowoomba, follow the New England Hwy for about 9.2km where Drayton Connection Rd joins the highway and veer left to continue towards Warwick. Continue for another 20.1km and turn right into Nobby Connection Rd with the brown sign for Rudds Pub and Nobby. Follow Nobby Connection Rd for 3.3km and turn left onto Greenmont Nobby Rd and continue for about 1.3km crossing over the railway line. Immediately after crossing the railway line, head straight ahead to the main street of Nobby and turn right. Rudds Pub is about 230m on the left and the free camp area is on the right.
From Allowa, coming out from Warwick St, head north towards Toowoomba. Follow the New England Hwy for 22.5km and turn left into Nobby Connection Rd with the brown sign for Rudds Pub and Nobby. Follow Nobby Connection Rd for 3.3km and turn left onto Greenmont Nobby Rd and continue for about 1.3km crossing over the railway line. Immediately after crossing the railway line, head straight ahead to the main street of Nobby and turn right. Rudds Pub is about 230m on the left and the free camp area is on the right.
From Clifton, head north out of town on Felton Clifton Rd for 7.9km. Before crossing over the railway line, veer straight ahead into the main street of Nobby. Rudds Pub is about 230m on the left and the free camp area is on the right.
Cost: Free
Hours: Mon-Sun, Dining Mon-Thu 6pm-8pm, Fri-Sat 6pm-8.30pm, Sun 5.30pm to 7.30pm, Lunches Mon-Sat 12pm-2pm, Sun 11.30am-2.30pm
Toilets: Yes
Bins: No
Tables: Yes
Seating: Yes
Water: Yes, at park across the road
Food: Yes, pub meals
Wheelchair accessible: Yes, assistance may be required
Pets: No
BBQ: Yes, at park across the road
Playground: Yes, at park across the road
