Grown from the river boat trade along the Darling River, the hotel and pub is at the heart of Tilpa and a favourite attraction for both travellers and locals. Established in 1894, the Tilpa Hotel is full of character and includes a bistro and accommodation.
The pub’s walls, made of timber and corrugated iron, are adorned with traveller’s graffiti, offering an entertaining read while enjoying a cold beer and a chat with the locals. For a small donation to the Royal Flying Doctor Service, visitors can even add their own signature or message to the walls.
Once a busy port for river trade and agriculture, Tilpa was an important crossroads in the Outback. A bridge across the Darling River was used as a stock crossing, and the port was integral to shipping wool to Wentworth and onward, to either Echuca or Adelaide.
Tilpa has several unique claims to fame:
- It boasts the only Boer War memorial that includes a tribute to Harry “The Breaker” Morant.
- The town features Australia’s shortest heritage trail, consisting of just two signs on either side of the main road.
- Tilpa Cemetery is the only cemetery in Australia without anyone buried in it.
- The Tilpa Trading Post is famous for its incredible hamburgers, which some claim are the best in the world!
As a key stop along the Darling River Run, Tilpa is the perfect place for travellers to rest, enjoy a meal, and recharge, whether they’re heading upstream to Louth or downstream to Wilcannia.
The Tilpa Hotel is a Pub Stop along these Pub Routes. Discover more routes and pub history.
Pub Stories
Discover the history of the Tilpa Hotel
Pubs & Breweries of Tilpa
Tilpa’s first licensed hotel was opened in 1877 when a licence was granted to James Buckley on 3 January of that year. On the original licence its location is given as Killara, Darling River. The name of this new hotel was the “Wee Watter”, although it has sometimes, unofficially, been called the “Wee Watta” or “Wee Watah”.