The Lion's Den

There's something about some pubs that almost leave one stuck for words. I thought Silverton just out of Broken Hill was rather unique (and it is) but a visit to The Lion's Den on the Bloomfield Track at Helensdale (out of Cooktown heading south) is even more unique!

At the entrance stands a strange looking lion that may have roared its last roar many years ago. A giraffe leans precariously against the fence a few metres away. Signs about NO DOGS make it very clear that dogs are not welcome at this pub - must have had a bad experience.

Venturing through the doorway, your eye is drawn to the walls, ceiling, architraves, posts (any flat surface really). Covering almost every spare centimetre are signatures, phrases, jokes and sketches from visitors from all over the globe. It's overwhelming.

A large jungle mural decorates part of one wall with signatures under it and next to it. The floorboards are uneven and it's obvious that OH&S isn't an issue in this place.

The origins of the signatures on the wall stem from the mining days when the miners would collect their pay and visit the pub. Many of them kept a few personal possessions at the pub including their pay. As they spent their hard-earned cash, they would have a record of the remainder and next visit, would know how much they could spend on drinks. It grew from there.