What’s happening?
Five well-known Scenic Rim destinations are marking major milestones in 2026, putting a fresh spotlight on one of South East Queensland’s best-loved getaway regions.
The list includes The Royal Hotel at Harrisville, The Dugandan Hotel, St Bernards Hotel on Tamborine Mountain, the Canungra Hotel, and O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat.
At Harrisville, The Royal Hotel is marking 151 years after opening in 1875. It remains one of the oldest pubs in the region and still welcomes guests for meals, live music, and camping on its grounds.
The Royal has a long and colourful past. It survived multiple fires, the January 1887 flood, and major fire damage on 2 June 1916.
Owners say Margaret Wholey, one of Queensland’s first female publicans, is one of the resident ghosts still linked to the pub.
Near Boonah, The Dugandan Hotel is marking 140 years. The timber building began in the 1880s as a general store before it was converted into a hotel in 1913.
Today, The Dugie remains a community meeting point, known for its wraparound verandah, wide Scenic Rim views and the beer garden called The Chook Yard.
On Tamborine Mountain, St Bernards Hotel is celebrating 111 years as a licensed hotel. The property was built in 1881, moved to its current site in 1898, and granted a hotel licence in 1915.
It remains a favourite for its panoramic outlook, resident St Bernard dogs and even a resident peacock.
The Canungra Hotel is also marking 100 years. Originally a timber guesthouse, it became a licensed pub in 1928 and stayed central to the town through fire, rebuilds and change.
O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat is turning 100 this year too. Opened in 1926 in Lamington National Park, it is recognised as Australia’s oldest family-owned ecotourism retreat.
Why it matters?
This matters because the Scenic Rim is one of the closest and most varied tourism regions for Redlands readers looking beyond the coast.
It offers a different kind of South East Queensland escape, one built around mountain views, heritage pubs, rainforest stays and small-town history.
These milestone years also show how long-running venues can keep serving new generations without losing the stories that made them special.
For Redlands families, couples and road-trippers, that gives the region extra pull. It is close enough to feel practical, but different enough to feel like a proper break.
Local Impact
A trip to the Scenic Rim gives another weekend idea within South East Queensland, whether that means lunch at a historic pub, a mountain stopover, or a longer stay in the rainforest.
That also broadens the kind of regional travel Redlands residents might consider. Instead of heading only to the beach or Brisbane, there is a strong inland option with history, food and nature in the one trip.
The Scenic Rim’s mix of pubs, views, wildlife and family-run tourism also fits well with the kind of short escapes many Redlands locals already enjoy.
By the numbers
- The anniversaries run from 100 years to 151 years, with The Royal Hotel in Harrisville the oldest of the group.
- The Scenic Rim covers more than 4,200 square kilometres, which helps explain the region’s wide mix of towns, pubs, parks and nature-based stays.
- The region includes more than 30,000 hectares of parkland, six historic national parks and three dams, Lake Moogerah, Lake Maroon and Wyaralong Dam.
Zoom in
The Royal Hotel at Harrisville has one of the richest backstories in the group.
Built in 1875, it has survived multiple fires and one of the area’s biggest floods in January 1887.
It was heavily damaged by fire on 2 June 1916, though no one died in that blaze.
According to the owners, the only recorded death at the hotel was in 1934, when boarder Mr Neaves died of a heart attack.
The hotel also appeared in the ABC mini-series Fat Cow Motel in 2003, with many locals working as extras.
At the other end of the list, O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat shows how the Scenic Rim built its name in nature-based tourism.
Since opening in 1926, it has grown into a multi-award-winning destination run by third and fourth generation family members.
It is also home to Australia’s first treetop walkway and rare species including the regent bowerbird and Albert’s lyrebird.
Zoom out
Together, these five milestones show why the Scenic Rim keeps its place as one of South East Queensland’s most enduring regional draws.
The region stretches from Canungra to The Lost World, Beaudesert to Boonah, and Tamborine Mountain to Kalbar.
That mix helps the Scenic Rim stand apart. It is close to home, but it offers a very different pace and setting.
What To Look For Next?
These milestone celebrations are likely to keep the Scenic Rim in the minds of South East Queensland travellers through 2026.
For Redlands locals, that could mean more reason to add the region to a weekend plan, especially for those after heritage, scenery and somewhere with a strong local story.
