An early photo of men gathered around a traction steam engine outside the Coolamon Hotel. Photo: Chris Nicholes via Coolamon’s Memory Lane.
It’s been a long while between drinks for patrons of the iconic Coolamon Hotel, which was forced to close its doors during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.
Coolamon locals and visitors alike have watched with interest as the grand old pub on the corner of Cowabbie and Wade streets has undergone a major renovation under its new owners, who promise that the beer will be flowing once again in 2025.
The enormous multimillion-dollar overhaul has brought the old girl back to life with a shiny new roof, extensive repairs to the verandas and a fresh colour scheme that feels both modern and respectful of the heritage. The biggest change to the structure – one sure to attract plenty of attention – is the new glass-roof dining area in the centre of the building.
The Coolamon Hotel has been restored to its former glory and will soon reopen. Photo: Coolamon Hotel.
Winding back the clock on the Coolamon Hotel, it is believed that a bush shanty first began serving dubious drinks on the site a year before the railway arrived in 1881.
An article in the Australian Town and Country Journal in September 1885 described the rapid progress of the previous four years and the “thriving township” that was taking shape.
“Even now it has all the appearance of a ‘live town’ of respectable proportions,” the correspondent proclaimed.
”The population numbers upward of 200, and at the present time a number of new buildings are in the course of construction.”
The report listed “two good hotels” in the town: Morgan’s Royal Hotel and Mr T J Webster’s Coolamon Hotel, to which he had added an assembly hall at a cost of £150.
“The building will accommodate 200 persons; and, being fitted with a stage and shifting scenes, is well adapted for concerts,” the story said.
Jumping forward 25 years to June 1910 and the original hotel was undergoing a major revamp. The Coolamon-Ganmain Farmers Review was most impressed with the second stage of development, being overseen by the proprietor, Mr H Bassett.
It was described as a credit to the contractor and architect “both for faithfulness of work and beauty of design”.
“The interior of the building is right up-to-date in every department, one grand feature being the size and height of the rooms. The building throughout is replete with every comfort that appertains to a modern hotel.”
The correspondent praised the large, well-ventilated dining rooms, the modern kitchen and the food lift, which allowed staff to deliver meals to upstairs diners.
The bedrooms and bathrooms got the thumbs up, the 12-foot-wide (3.5-metre) balcony offered patrons “a good view of the town” and the reporter was particularly impressed with the plumbing.
“Water is laid on wherever necessary, and one could imagine himself in a city possessing a perfect water supply, so well are matters in this respect arranged.”
The writer concluded that, once the next stage was completed, “Coolamon will certainly possess a hotel that for comfort and architectural beauty, will be hard to beat.”
The third stage of the development was opened for business in May 1913 under Donald McArthur’s stewardship.
In an advertisement in The Daily Advertiser in June, the Scottish licensee announced that the “Coolamon Hotel has recently been considerably enlarged and great improvements carried out to add to its convenience as a first-class Hotel”.
A story in the Coolamon-Ganmain Farmers Review in May celebrated the upgrade and in particular the “spacious balcony” that had been extended along the whole length of the two frontages.
“When one looks back and remembers the old wayside shanties which for so many years served the requirements of travelers, and compares the fine spacious hotels, fitted with every convenience of today, one is able in some measure to realise the great progress that Coolamon and district have made.”
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