The only pub in Australia’s hottest Outback town has shut down after its temporary manager quit.
The Iron Clad hotel has been serving icy cold beer in Marble Bar, a town of 300 people, for 111 years.
But residents say it hasn’t opened its doors since Sunday night.
Western Australia state’s department of gaming, racing and liquor said the establishment’s operators were on a European vacation and its temporary manager simply decided he’d had enough.
One restaurant in the town is serving beer with meals. But the nearest pub is at Port Hedland, a thirsty 200km to the west.
Marble Bar earned its title as Australia’s hottest spot when in 1923-24 it clocked up 161 consecutive days with temperatures of at least 37,8 degrees Celsius.
Last week, the mercury hit 45 degrees. This week it hovered at about 40 degrees Celsius, according to Lyn Towes, who records temperatures for the Bureau of Meteorology. — Sapa-AP