Iconic John Forrest Tavern to close and be replaced with food trucks as part of national park redevelopment

Perth’s most Instagram-famous pub is only weeks away from being forcibly closed by the State Government – and replaced with food trucks – to pave way for a major redevelopment The John Forrest Tavern — also known as the Wildflower Tavern — has regularly featured in national news media and social media feeds for the dozens of friendly kangaroos which mingle with visitors every day. A lease for the pub — which opened in 1978 — is set to expire on May 31. The Department of Biodiversity, Conservations and Attractions, responsible for managing the John Forrest National Park, on Friday confirmed the lease would not be renewed. More than 8200 people have signed an online petition demanding a reversal of the decision. “The upgrades planned for John Forrest National Park will revitalise and diversify the activities available to park visitors through new and improved walking and off-road cycling trails, a new café, interpretation and retail space and improvements to existing picnic areas and gardens,” a DBCA spokesman said. The spokesman added: “DBCA will license food vans to provide a food and beverage service to visitors once the John Forrest Tavern has closed and the new facilities are being constructed.” John Forrest Tavern manager Megan Braid, whose family has owned the pub for the last 22 years, said she was told by DBCA the pub would be “bulldozed to become a carpark” She fears the pub will remain abandoned for months until construction begins after a $1.7 million design contract was only awarded to an architecture firm in February. “I don’t want to stop the redevelopment, but we would like to keep trading until as late as possible, otherwise it will just be abandoned,” she said. “Once we pull out, they’re just going to board up the building... that’s just going to be horrible on its own for the national park. “It is part of the park.” The John Forrest Tavern has gone viral in recent years with videos purporting to show kangaroos working behind the bar and a dating app profile being set up for the local mob’s alpha male Mankey.