For the first time in 40 years, the iconic Birdsville Hotel is set to change hands this month after it was sold to a New South Wales couple.

Key points: The Birdsville Hotel sits on the edge of the Simpson Desert, about 1,600km west of Brisbane

The Birdsville Hotel sits on the edge of the Simpson Desert, about 1,600km west of Brisbane The pub has been owned by beef producers David and Nell Brook and their friends Kym and Jo Fort for the past 40 years

The pub has been owned by beef producers David and Nell Brook and their friends Kym and Jo Fort for the past 40 years Courtney and Talia Ellis, from Albury, are tourism entrepreneurs, with Talia previously a senior outback pilot

The sale is in its final stages, with former co-owners Jo and Kym Fort and David and Nell Brook happy to see that "the old girl" will be in good hands.

"You want to make sure you pass it on to someone who'll possibly do it even better than you," Jo Fort said.

New owners Courtney and Talia Ellis are very familiar with Birdsville and life in the Channel Country, having travelled through the town many times in the last decade.

Ms Ellis, a former outback pilot, worked for a company based at the Oodnadatta Track before becoming the chief pilot at Spirit Aviation.

Talia and Courtney Ellis with children Sierra and Jonty in Birdsville last November. ( Supplied: Courtney Ellis )

Mr Ellis is a co-founder of Outback Spirit Tours, which specialises in outback tourism.

They often stop off in Birdsville for work and when travelling with their kids, and said they loved the small town and had often talked about owning the pub.

"The outback has been the business of my life for 20 years, so it's not like it's new to me and certainly not new to Talia, so it's not like we're going for this big sea change — it's always been part of us," Mr Ellis said.

"We always seem to be in Birdsville and I think every time we've been there in the past there's always a conversation about how great it would be to own the hotel.

"The long and short of it is, a few things fell into place and we decided to take the plunge and buy it."

Pub ownership in Ellis blood

The hotel put on a Christmas lunch for the town in 2019. ( ABC Western Queensland: Maddelin McCosker )

Mr Ellis said it ran in the Ellis blood to own a pub.

"All my family, over 130 years, have been stock and station agents, farmers or publicans," he said.

"It's one, two or three, and quite often three at once, so I suppose it's nothing new for an Ellis to own a pub."

With decades of experience in tourism and hospitality between the two of them, they are excited to move their young family to Birdsville.

They will base themselves in town during peak tourism period, when the town is at its busiest.

"I'm looking forward to being in the bar and talking to guests as they come in, learning about where they are going or coming from," Mr Ellis said.

"And Talia is the same. She loves talking to people and we can't wait to get involved with it that way."

What's next for the Birdsville Hotel

Ben Fullager, who has been managing the hotel since 2015, said it would be "business as usual".

"It's always been the dream for the current owners and for the staff for it to go to the right people, who are going to carry on the legacy of the hotel," Mr Fullager said.

Birdsville Hotel manager Ben Fullager says it's "business as usual" at the hotel following the sale. ( ABC Western Queensland: Maddelin McCosker )

While talks between the current owners and the Ellises started getting serious in mid-2019, Mr Fullager said it would be like working with old friends.

"They do know the area very well, and we've gotten to know Courtney and Talia over the years because Birdsville was a frequent stop for them when they were travelling," he said.

"We're really excited. They're really respectful of the pub's history and heritage."

The inside of the Birdsville Hotel is just as iconic as the outside. ( ABC Western Queensland: Maddelin McCosker )

There are no major plans for drastic changes to the hotel, with Mr Ellis saying there was no need for it at this stage.

"We're going to keep it running the way it is," he said.

"The hotel has evolved over the years, and I think that is a real credit to the previous owners.

"We have no immediate plans to really do anything except a few cosmetic changes the rooms and finish a few bits and pieces.

"We're thrilled to own the hotel soon and hopefully we can beat the 40-year holding of the baton.

"It's just amazing feat that the previous owners having held the place for a touch over 40 years, so hopefully we can get close to beating that!"