A pub in outback Western Australia is advertising for male skimpy barmaids to shake up Kalgoorlie-Boulder's reputation as a male-dominated mining town.



Kalgoorlie-Boulder, 600 kilometres east of Perth, is famous for gold mining — as well as its around-the-clock drinking culture, skimpy barmaids and strip of historic brothels along Hay Street.



While it has become more family-friendly in recent years, the Hannans Hotel thinks there might be a new market for male skimpies.

"Every pub in Kalgoorlie has female skimpies and we thought we might give the males a go," Tracy Julin, manager of local pub Hannans Hotel said.



By donning the uniform of a G-string and an optional bow tie, a male skimpy could potentially earn the same as their female counterparts who regularly take home up to $2,000 a week working behind the bar.



The concept of the male skimpy was briefly trialled more than a decade ago in Kalgoorlie-Boulder and is now being revived by Hannans Hotel.

A sign advertising for male skimpy barmaids at the Hannans Hotel. ( ABC Kalgoorlie: Jarrod Lucas )

One male applicant in two months



The pub is named after Irish prospector Paddy Hannan, whose discovery 125 years ago, alongside fellow prospectors Tom Flanagan and Daniel Shea, sparked one of Australia's biggest gold rushes.



It is also one of the few remaining hotels in Kalgoorlie-Boulder that serves a traditional miner's breakfast for workers coming off the 12-hour night shifts, with scantily-clad women serving bacon and eggs with a beer behind the bar from 6am.

Hannans Hotel manager Tracey Julin says women want to see male skimpy barmaids working in Kalgoorlie-Boulder. ( ABC Kalgoorlie: Jarrod Lucas )

With more women working in mining than ever before, Ms Julin said she wanted to put a new spin on the concept of the skimpies, which have been part of life in mining towns for decades.

"It's something for the ladies, instead of the boys," she said.

So far, Ms Julin said she has had only one man show interest in becoming a male skimpy since she began advertising the position two months ago.



"A lot of people are saying it will never happen," she said.

"The females are all for it and can't wait for it to happen, but the men are not interested at all."

FIFO skimpies part of mining town culture

Advertising for skimpies outside Kalgoorlie's Exchange Hotel. ( ABC Kalgoorlie )

A core group of about 20 women work as skimpies at pubs in Kalgoorlie-Boulder.



Only rarely are the women local residents, with most flying in from Perth or Queensland.



Ms Julin said the skimpy industry has recovered since the end of the mining boom and is riding high again in Kalgoorlie-Boulder on the back of a strong gold mining industry.



"I think it's on par with the mining, as long as the miners are going well, so will the girls," she said.



"There's no shortage. There's always girls willing to come to Kalgoorlie for the work because it's a really solid week of work."

Skimpy barmaid says 'leave it to the girls'

Chey, from Queensland's Sunshine Coast, has worked as a skimpy for the past three years in Kalgoorlie-Boulder, flying in for four weeks before enjoying a fortnight off.



She said the hours were demanding, working seven days a week, but she enjoyed the work.



Chey said she doubts the concept of male skimpies will take off.



"I reckon it would be cool ... except the G-string — maybe jeans and a tie," she said.



"Honestly I think guys one night a week might work— otherwise let's leave it to the girls.



"Let the girls show them how to do it."

Male skimpy plan not for everyone



Gold miner Jackson Hughes was drinking at the Hannans Hotel with co-workers after night shift this week when the ABC asked him about the prospect of a male skimpy.



"It's probably not for me, but maybe for the females," he said.



"It might tickle some people but not 99 per cent of Kalgoorlie.

"Whatever you're in to, I guess."



Mr Hughes joked he might consider changing careers.



"I'd do it, but I'm shy ... see my cheeks? They're going red," he said.

Skimpy barmaid Chey has been working in Kalgoorlie-Boulder pubs for three years. ( ABC Kalgoorlie: Jarrod Lucas )

A female patron at the bar, who did not want to be named, told the ABC that she worked in the mines and a male skimpy is not her cup of tea.

"It's gross," she said.

"Blokes in G-strings — no thanks, it's not manly."



An underground driller, who also did not want to be named, told the ABC it would take a brave man to be a male skimpy in Kalgoorlie-Boulder.



"I'm born and bred here, so I've seen it all," he said.



"I don't think it will take off in this town.



"Blokes are a bit rough here — I don't think they'd like to see blokes running around in the nick.



"We're all miners and we're not as rough as we used to be, but I still don't like it.

"Each to their own."

Cash carrot dangled to lure male skimpies



Ms Julin has begun offering a $1,000 donation to any local sporting club who provides a male skimpy to entice more applicants.



She initially wants applicants for a one-off function on July 28 but would be keen to make male skimpies a regular event.



"I think it's a great legitimate job, it's a good money earner and it would be nice to get the boys on track with the girls," she said.



"The general mindset is it's a man's town ... the men want to see the women and they're not interested in seeing the men.



"I think we're forgetting about the ladies a little bit, because there's enough of us in town to make it worthwhile."