The Wood Duck Inn, billed as Canberra's last true blue Aussie pub, served its last drinks on Sunday.
Allyson Wedrat shut up shop after working at the Hall pub for 22 years and owning it for 10.
Increasing rents and low patronage forced the decision to close.
"I have bawled and bawled," she said on Sunday.
"This is my life and I have been passionate about this place the very first day I walked in."
Ms Wedrat bought the pub with husband Jim Kroezen - better known as Jimbo the Great and co-inventor of the stubby glove - and the pair worked hard to maintain the sense of community felt within its four walls.
Since Mr Kroezen died unexpectedly four years ago Ms Wedrat worked across the bar and the kitchen. Such was the community's love for the place that many regulars volunteered to help.
Hall woman Tammy McIver isn't sure where she'll go next when she wants a drink.
"There's so many people that are lonely at home and they come here for company," she said.
"This is really disappointing," her partner, Dean Crowe, agreed. The pair met at The Wood Duck Inn. "This is where we come to solve the problems of the world."
The Hall Bushrangers have used the pub as a makeshift clubhouse for about 25 years. To younger players, Ms Wedrat is known as Mum.
"She'll order a cab for them, drive them home," president Nigel Page said.
"This leaves a big hole in our club. It's a big part of our history."
Ms Wedrat is unsure what the future holds. As a 56-year-old woman she is keenly aware that employment may be hard to find.
Her patrons are her family, but many of her biological relatives live in Queensland, while her five daughters live in Canberra. She feels torn about what to do and where to go.
"If businesses don't know you from a bar of soap you'd assume they'd go for a younger thing," she said.
"That's the only thing that really bothers me."
Patrons were invited to get stuck at the Duck one last time on Saturday night.
A few drinkers were so reluctant to leave they slept on the floor and the pub's couch. Ms Wedrat found herself a doona and slept alongside them.
The pub was still full on Sunday as the clean-up from the night before continued. Extra beer was brought in after the bar was emptied.
A group of women, bidding their goodbyes to Ms Wedrat, reminisced about a karaoke night in which the trio performed Madonna's Like a Virgin - born-again virgins, they joked.
"Thanks for the memories," they said.
"The memories are ours," Ms Wedrat said. "You can't fall in love with a building but I have."
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