OXIDE Street’s Tydvil Hotel is not only one of the most popular pubs in the Silver City but has also been recognised internationally for its iconic distilled in-house gins.
Distiller and publican Paul Hanna runs the Broken Hill Distillery from the humble and unassuming old hall next to the pub’s beer garden and taught himself how to distill gin during covid lockdowns.
“I had experience drinking gin, but not making gin,” Paul said. “If drinking was recognised as a prior learning I’d be considered well skilled.”
The distillery’s gins incorporate local ingredients and flavours to offer a taste of the Far West, often featuring the work of local artists on the labels and names inspired by the area.
The 6:45 gin, which co-director Eric hanna who runs the Tydvil’s pub and bistro with wife Heidi said might be his favourite, is a tribute to the rhythm of Broken Hill’s heartbeat: the twice daily mine explosions at 6.45.
Brothers Eric and Paul began kicking around ideas of turning the unused hall space into either a brewery or distillery, and in 2021 Paul decided to try his hand at the latter.
“I’m partial to many beverages,” Paul said “But gin goes down particularly well.”
Paul said the process is very slow and meticulous.
“Nothing is done in a hurry,” he said.
“If you rush it, you can taste it.”
Before distilling Paul worked in construction and had been living in Swan Hill in Victoria.
He was driving up to visit Eric and Heidi every second weekend when he decided to relocate.
“I ended up buying a place and I loved it,” he said. “Every time I came to visit I just loved it a bit more, the people and the attitude.”
Despite being new to the distilling business, the Hannas quickly made a name for themselves, winning awards for their gins nationally and internationally.
At the 2024 World Gin Awards, the Tydvil’s Broken Hill Distillery took home awards for their Outback Strength Gin, Far West Gin, Remembrance Gin and Redgum Honey & Quandong Gin.
And it’s not only the distillery that the Hanna’s are receiving recognition for, but the Tydvil Hotel itself also picked up a handful of awards last year at the Australian Hospitality Awards as well as the Regional Development Australia’s Far West NSW Excellence in Tourism and Hospitality and Excellence in Presentation and Marketing awards.
Husband and wife duo Eric and Heidi Hanna have been mainstays of the hospitality industry in the Far West of New South Wales and outback Queensland for more than two decades, having worked in multifaceted roles at the Birdsville Hotel between 2000 and 2004 and then licensees of the Innamincka Hotel from 2004 until 2007 before coming to Broken Hill.
Heidi said the hospitality was hard work but a labour of love.
“We wouldn’t be here if we didn’t love it,” she said. “It’s ridiculously addictive and exhausting.”
Knowing almost everyone who walks into the pub and feeling a sense of community is what has made it all worthwhile for Heidi, and why the pair have put down roots here.
“It’s been nice because I guess in Birdsville and Innamincka, while there was community, it was probably more tourism that we had through,” Heidi said.
“Whereas here, this is more just a sprinkle of tourism and mostly local community.
“You get to see kids grow up, become staff members, move on and get other jobs, get married, have babies.”
Eric said he’s always excited to share a yarn with his customers as most have become friends.
“It’s really nice knowing everyone that comes in,” he said.
