To us here at the DCA a Dampier icon can be a place, a person, an animal or an organisation. It’s the memories we create around these things, the ones that make us smile, shed a tear, sometimes cringe but never regret. One of these such icons is The Mermaid Hotel, where many Dampier family roots started back in the day, where bets are placed and beers shared, problems solved and the characters who entertained over the generations will never be forgotten. One thing is for sure ‘The Maid’ has been at the bosom of the Dampier community since the very beginning.

The Mermaid Motor Hotel was opened by H. L. Mc Guigan Esq., Administrator for the North West on 20th December 1967. The finer details of the hotel at that time are a little unclear but we believe that in the 1970’s, extra rooms, maybe the beer garden and the staff accommodation in front of the hotel, affectionately known as the swamp, were added. Currently the hotel has 68 rooms, a front bar and a beer garden.

The Bond family took over the hotel from the Mercure Inn chain in late March 2003. The Mermaid was the Bond families sixth hotel motel venture after making the move down to Dampier from Port Hedland. Keith and Sandra Bond firstly renovated the unused sports bar into a restaurant Sirens Chargrill – the place to be seen on any weekend night.

The Mermaid, like everything in the Northwest, is tough and resilient. It has weathered not only the ebb and flow of industry but Mother Nature herself, surviving even after significant cyclone damage in 2006 and again in 2007. This year has been a very difficult year for all, but the Bonds have taken the opportunity to give ‘The Maid’ a birthday and make the place all bright and shiny. The Sirens Chargrill Restaurant is currently getting prepped for its official reopening in early January 2021. Let’s hope it will relive its glory days.

A pub is all about its people – the ones that give character to a place. Here are just a few of the many characters that have added to the essence of the Mermaid over the years… Peter ‘Divel’ Davey – 35 years plus of service to the Mermaid and its punters, a keen 8 ball player with a dry sense of humour. Ray, Head Chef for 10 years – a banjo playing chef, for whom no function was ever too big. Cellarman, night security and maintenance man, Scruffy – famous for his humour and costumes. His Brother Wally, cellarman and stock controller famous for his larrikinism and being able to do two finger push ups with outstretched arms at 70 years of age! Bob Wrigley used to buy birthday cakes for staff on their birthdays and apparently drank the most VB out of anyone at the Mermaid. Lastly but not least, General Manager Anthony Loveridge has been a part of the furniture since 2004, whether it’s behind the counter late into the evening or driving the bus to gather the punters and drop them home safely home after a ‘few’.

The Mermaid has been perched on the hill looking over shark cage and the islands for over 50 years. Let’s hope the next 50 years will be as embracing to the Maid as the last. Looking forward to seeing most of Dampier’s newbies and oldies for the annual pilgrimage to the Maid on Christmas Eve – don’t forget to sign in.

Many thanks to Nick Bond for help gathering all the fun facts.

6th Dampier Icon - The Mermaid Hotel - the Bosom of the Community.

DAMPIER COMMUNITY Association

DAMPIER CARAVAN PARK