A well-known Australian pub, the focus of an eight-year-old unsolved mystery and a captivating Netflix series, has come up for sale.
The Larrimah Hotel, situated in the Northern Territory, is available for purchase for the first time since the release of the popular two-part documentary in 2023.
The series explored the case of Paddy Moriarty, a long-time local and pub patron who vanished without a trace.
The 70-year-old Irishman was last spotted on December 16, 2017, leaving the Pink Panther Hotel with his red kelpie cross, Kellie.
Steve Baldwin, the current owner, acquired the pub from Barry Sharpe in 2018 shortly after Moriarty’s disappearance.
Located roughly 500km south of Darwin, the hotel along the Stuart Highway serves as a popular pit-stop for travelers and tourists curious about the town tied to Mr. Moriarty’s unsolved case.
Real estate agent Warren Andrews is handling the sale of the property, listed at $795,000, stating, “You need to see it to believe it.”
He depicts the hotel as the quintessential “true blue Aussie bush pub.”
“From the pink panthers to giant stubbies, as well as the resident emus and crocodiles, this pub is rich with history and mystery,” he remarked.
Baldwin shared with NewsWire that the pub has a profound history beyond that of its vanished patron.
“The pub will celebrate its centennial in five years; it was established during the war and played a significant role,” he revealed.
“It’s located at the end of the railway line from Darwin, where many troops would come down, then proceed southwards to Alice Springs and eventually return here by train.”
“They created an airstrip here after the bombing in Darwin.”
“At one point, the population neared 10,000, which is substantial, but now it has dwindled to eight.”
Baldwin noted that three locals have passed away since the release of “Last Stop Larrimah” on Netflix.
“All of them were elderly,” he mentioned.
“According to Carl, featured in the Netflix show and a nearby resident, there hasn’t been any beer on tap here for about 30 years,” he stated.
“When I arrived, there were taps in the cool room that were unused, so we revamped the bar.”
Baldwin estimated the annual visitor count to the hotel is challenging to track, yet an increasing number of people stop by to learn about the enigmatic town.
He also mentioned a new gas plant in the Beetaloo Basin is set to launch soon, expected to attract more workers to the area.
The establishment is home to two crocodiles named Sneaky Sam and Agro, who reside behind the hotel and are cared for by Baldwin.
“We joke that we’re selling the crocs and throwing in the pub for free,” he chuckled.
When asked about the value of a crocodile, he joked, “$795,000.”
“I just hope to slow down and retire,” he expressed.
“This is a great chance to step into a thriving business with lots of potential for the future.”
“It’s rare to find a 100-year-old establishment like this in the tropics, especially one at the heart of a Netflix series, where the mystery is still unsolved.”
“There was initially a $250,000 reward for details about Paddy Moriarty’s fate, which was recently increased to $500,000.”
“I’m uncertain if this will ever be resolved, and the previous publican has passed away.”
“Fran still resides here; she’s now 81, and often stands on the balcony telling everyone, ‘He’s leaving, don’t go missing now.’”
