Maryborough pub crawl puts New York in the shade

The Queensland Wide Bay town of Maryborough has taken back its coveted title as holder of the World's Largest Pub Crawl after the weekend's city-wide 13 pub event. 4,657 people combed the streets of Maryborough on Sunday smashing the previous record by about 1,500. A trawl of 13 pubs on a hot day is not to be sneezed at, and this correspondent did well to manage 11 of them - just not quite having enough intestinal fortitude to get the bus and take in the 2 outlier pubs.

This the fifth annual Maryborough crawl and it was all (well, mostly) in a good cause. This year, pub crawlers were urged to "paint the town pink" with proceeds from the "crawl" around Maryborough's historical hotels going to the McGrath Foundation which provides funding for breast care nurses in regional areas. Pink is not my favourite colour, but I was determined to add to the amber.

11am. The first pub was the Carriers Arms Hotel. A somewhat soulless place on the outskirts of town. But it was handy for where I was staying.













I was surprised at how many people dressed up. Probably 80 percent of people made the effort (your correspondent was in the shameful 20 percent).













The hard hats queue up for food.













11.50am Venue 2. The Lamington. Just off the main road north from Brisbane. The Lammy was pleasant spot for the second beer of the day.













Some of the many Lammy revellers in pink













Grave fears for Bernie's budget burials













An attractive array of Heidis yodelling their way past the Aussie (venue#3) back in the centre of town. Where the next 8 pubs are - all within swaying distance of each other













Next pub. The Oxford #4













A short hop across the road to the Sydney #pub 5













The Smurfs have hit the Sydney beer garden













as have the Saris













Not really a pub. The "Sunrise" (#6) is a vacant block where all the charities set up shop. But you could get your card stamped and have a beer. Good enough for me













The Royal Hotel, Kent St (#7) on the main drag in town.













Like some fabled South American bird, only one made out of instant tea and coffee sachets













Pub #8 is the Central - 'welcome to the "superbar". Its that big we're closing off the street'













They were not lying













Pub no. 9 The imposing Post Office Hotel













large crowds in the Post Office's defacto beer garden













enjoying the band at the Post Office













Pub 10 The Criterion, down portside where Customs Officers slaked their thirsts after checking the imports on the Mary













attractive and colourful patrons at the Crit













and the building itself doesn't look bad either













never seen death looking so cheerful













Pub 11 and last of the day. The Shamrock. Back out of town towards the road to Biggenden













more late evening fun in the sun to be had at the Shamrock beer garden













The builders labourers we saw at the start of the day have downed tools. 5pm. Time for everyone to go home. Hiccup.