Morven, a small but spirited town in Queensland’s southwest, traces its roots back to the 1860s when Captain T.J. Sadleir and his wife camped beside a deep, reliable waterhole on Hamburg Creek. This site, soon known as Sadleir’s Waterhole, became an essential stop for Cobb & Co coaches, bullock teams, and drovers travelling the long route between Brisbane and Charleville.

In 1859, a portion of the vast Victoria Downs station was set aside as a reserve, and by 1880, the growing settlement was officially surveyed and named Morven—likely inspired by its Scottish namesake.

The town began to thrive with the arrival of a post office in 1876, a school by 1887, and the extension of the railway, which transformed Morven into a vital outback hub. The waterhole, which initially served as the town’s primary water supply, also supported a Chinese market garden and became the lifeblood of early community life. Alongside it stood one of Morven’s earliest pubs—serving weary travellers and locals alike.

Over the years, as deep bores were drilled into the Great Artesian Basin and infrastructure modernised, the original waterhole faded from daily use but remained a cultural touchstone.

Tragedy struck in April 2016 when the Morven Hotel Motel—the last pub in town—was destroyed by fire, leaving a void in the community. Undeterred, eight local families rallied together, volunteering time, trade skills, and sheer determination to rebuild what was lost.

In 2020, after four years of working bees, fundraising, and resilience, the new Sadleir’s Waterhole pub proudly reopened on the very site where the town’s spirit first began. Today, it stands not only as a modern country pub and motel but as a living tribute to Morven’s history, character, and unbreakable community spirit.

Group of people in front of the Royal Hotel at Morven, 1903.

Morven Hotel Motel, between late 1970s and early 1980s.

Morven Hotel, prior to burning down in 2016.

Sadlier’s Waterhole, 2025.