Maggie's Bar & Restaurant

Throughout my working life I spent many thousands of nights accommodated in motels around Australia.

Some were awful, some bad, some okay and few very good. By far the best were two operated in succession by my late friend Maggie Richards. These motels the “Curtain Fig” and “the Ulumbah Pocket” in Yungaburra, were perfect havens for the lonely traveller.

What made these motels special was the hospitality of Maggie. No matter how well presented a motel may be, it is the managers care for the guest that makes it great. Maggie was always there to greet you with a warm smile and a glass of wine. Many were the times we would go out and dine at a local restaurant with other guests from the motel.

I had always had it in my mind to design a motel especially for the business traveller. And so it was when I finally got the chance I sat down with Maggie and over many visits and glasses of red wine, we planned what we thought would be the best a motel could offer. Then with Andrew Carter of Utile Design we set about planning, construction and opening the Spinifex Motel in November 2007.

During the building of the motel Maggie contracted cancer but managed to survive to be at our opening.

Before she passed away I promised that the Bar would be named after her. I bid you all to raise your glass to the spirit of Maggie when you have a drink at her bar.

David Hine, Owner & just one of Maggie’s many friends.