Dale Shearer was one of Queensland’s greatest rugby league players, a flying winger who could sniff out an opportunity to score from any angle.

The Queensland icon reckons he’s found a great opportunity with another Queensland icon, the historic Babinda State Hotel.

The Queensland rugby league legend is overseeing the sale of this Queensland hospitality legend on behalf of Michael Philpott’s Tourism Brokers.

Babinda is a sugar cane town of 1200 people situated 60 kilometres south of Cairns on the Bruce Highway and close to Queensland's two highest mountains Mount Bartle Frere (Queensland's highest peak) and Mount Bellenden Ker.

The heritage-listed hotel on Munro Street was designed by Queensland’s Department of Public Works and built in 1916.

It was the only hotel at the time constructed and operated by the Queensland Government under the Labor government's State Enterprises scheme, a plan encouraged by wartime restrictions, food shortages and the consequent high prices.

The State Government established a series of state-run businesses – state butchers shops, state pastoral stations, fish supply shops, sawmills, produce agencies, cold stores and mines – to compete with private sector businesses in order to provide basic necessities at reasonable prices.

All the government enterprises lost money except for their one success story, the Babinda State Hotel, which offered quality accommodation and the sale of alcohol.

The hotel – then a two storied modern structure of concrete and wood with a corrugated iron roof – opened its doors to guests in May 1917 boasting “splendid furnishings” throughout and one of the largest bars of any hotel in Queensland.

It hosted many important visitors to Babinda including Prime Ministers Billy Hughes and Stanley Bruce, who were both greeted with civic receptions in the hotel.

However, the arrival of The Great Depression forced the government to sell the hotel to private owners in 1930 and it has had several owners since, though it retains its grand charm and remains the only hotel in town.

It was listed on the Queensland Heritage Register in 2002.

This rare freehold opportunity spans 1884 square metres in the heart of Babinda’s vibrant main street and is on the market for $2,200,000.

The net profit for 2023/24 was $243,372.

The historic hotel building, includes a fully licensed bar, bottle shop, and restaurant, a cafe, function room, and a timber deck with main street views.

The accommodation wings have 18 rooms and a main residence. There is also a commercial kitchen, offices, cold rooms, and an underfloor cellar.

Additional amenities include pool tables, keno, three licensed poker machines, a projector, and more.

Michael Philpott said the property had been held by the one family for many years.

“They have been there for the long term and they are wanting to retire and focus on other interests,” he said.

“This creates a rare opportunity for an exquisite offering.

“It really is a beautiful property that is more than 100 years old and steeped in Queensland history.

“With a motivated vendor, this multi-revenue business offers a prime investment with exceptional potential and Dale is ready for the sale.”

Dale Shearer’s illustrious sports career from 1985 to 1998 included representing Queensland in the State of Origin 26 times, and playing 20 Test matches for Australia.

Among his many accolades, he was named in the Indigenous Team of the Century and received the Australian Indigenous Sportsman Award.

Dale's community contributions also extend beyond sports; he has supported various charities and started Shearer Tackles Cancer to raise awareness and funds for cancer research in memory of his late wife.