A Country Pub With Something to Say: Mapleton Public House
A pub with good roots, great company and a story worth sharing.
There’s something special about a country pub. The familiar faces at the bar, the conversations that carry across tables and the feeling that you could settle in for an afternoon without watching the clock. Perched in the Sunshine Coast hinterland, Mapleton Public House has all of that, with a rather beautiful story growing behind the scenes.
Housed in a historic Queenslander dating back to 1910, this much-loved local has entered a new chapter under the care of Jessica Huddart and Ben Johnston, the couple behind nearby regenerative farm, The Falls Farm. Together with acclaimed chef Cameron Matthews, they’ve created a place where the traditional Australian pub meets a genuine love of good food, thoughtful farming and the simple pleasure of bringing people together.
And the relationship between the farm and the pub is where things get particularly wholesome.
Just down the road, The Falls Farm grows an ever-changing collection of vegetables, herbs, fruit and edible flowers, many of which find their way onto the menu at Mapleton Public House. What’s growing in the garden helps shape what’s cooking in the kitchen, with familiar pub favourites sitting alongside dishes that celebrate the seasons and the people who grow our food.
But this is still very much a pub. A place to pull up a chair, order something delicious and stay for another round. The drinks list gives local breweries, independent producers and Australian wines their moment, with plenty to discover beyond your usual order.
For this month’s edition of The Drop, we’re heading up the range to meet the people behind Mapleton Public House and find out what’s filling their glasses. From the stories behind their favourite pours to the philosophy that makes this little corner of the hinterland so special, we’re discovering why this country pub is well worth the drive.
As always, we’re leaving with five recommendations for your own wine rack.
