15/10/2026
Sad to know … 😔
Breaking news! The Larrimah Hotel in the Northern Territory has announced on its page today that it has closed for business.
The Larrimah Hotel (affectionately known as the Pink Panther Pub), a legendary outback establishment in the Northern Territory, is currently owned by Laura Ragless, who also owns the Stuarts Well Roadhouse.
Raglass has also announced the starts Well Roadhouse has also closed. Both pubs posted the following to their pages:
"Larrimah and stuarts well are now officially closed don’t bother coming the government harassment and all has taken its toll sorry 🙏 we will always respect our supporters but no longer can take the government harassment the convicts running this country."
Raglass purchased the historic Pink Panther Pub from the previous owner, Steve Baldwin, in September 2025, with plans to revitalise the venue and preserve its eccentric outback character.
While the remote pub has weathered decades of isolation and local challenges, its operations under the current ownership encountered severe operational hurdles leading up to the recent closure announcement:
* Security Incidents & Staff Safety: In May 2026, the pub temporarily restricted its access to locals and truck drivers following a violent incident. The management announced on the Larrimah Pink Panther Hotel page that the venue had been robbed and a staff member was assaulted, stating that continuing normal public operations under those conditions put "money over a life".
* True Crime Notoriety: The town of Larrimah (population of around 11–12 people) and its pub became world-famous following the December 2017 disappearance of local resident Paddy Moriarty and his dog, Kellie, who were last seen leaving the venue. The mystery became the subject of the hit Netflix documentary series Last Stop Larrimah. While the intense true-crime tourism brought a massive wave of curious travelers to the pub, managing a high-profile business in such a tiny, isolated location proved heavily demanding for successive publicans.
* Historical Liquor Licensing Issues: Under previous ownership, the venue faced strict regulatory pressure from the NT Liquor Commission. It suffered multiple trading penalties and breaches related to the Banned Drinker Register, adding long-term structural stress to the pub's business model before Ragless took over.
