Historic outback pub gets $50,000 revamp from Airbnb

While some claim the days of the iconic country pub are numbered, an outback watering hole in north Queensland is bucking the trend in a big way.

The owners of the Imperial Hotel in Ravenswood have topped the state in Airbnb's Country Pub Project, scoring them $50,000 to cement the venue's future.

Owners John and Diane Schluter have been the beating hearts of the heritage-listed hotel for the past 20 years.

They welcome visitors from all over the country and the world for a cold one at the bar and some yarns about the hotel's 118-year-long history.

"A lot of our visitors come here for a cultural experience, and they come from all over the world," John told 9News.

"The main thing for modern people is just to see how we lived and how our ancestors lived. They love to see the ornate kind of woodwork that's in the place and the way it's structured and how we lived."

They say they'll be using the mammoth grant to spruce up the aging hotel.

"Mainly upstairs for the accommodation and little things that you just can't afford to pay for," Diane said.

A golden opportunity to bring valuable tourism dollars to the old gold-rush town.

"Small towns like this can owe their existence or part of their existence to the people that come spend time here.