Coolamon Hotel has now reopened with a cocktail bar, glasshouse dining area and terrace after being out of action for five years.
New owner Craig Patterson said the end result was worth the challenge.
The pub first opened in 1880 and for many years was the focal point of the town but it had a stop-start history in more recent times and was sold by then-owner Danny Milne in 2020 to Iris Capital, owned by Sydney-based billionaire pub baron Sam Arnaout.
The real estate developer transferred the poker machine entitlements to a larger venue and the building was then sold to Mr Patterson and partner Megan Taylor, who have worked on multi-million dollar renovations.
They wanted to maintain these old buildings but bring them up to code which was an enormous task. He sees the venture as more a labour of love for his old town rather than a commercial venture.
Mr Patterson’s cousin and hospitality businessman Ryan Bartholomew and wife Mel joined forces with Mr Patterson and will be running the pub, including pulling the first pints last Friday night.
There are no poker machines at the new venue, which is unrecognisable to those who had last drinks there in 2020.
A new conservatory or glasshouse that can be used for private functions has direct access to the bar.
There is also a terrace on the side of a restaurant, also under glass, which provides a different dining experience, as well as a new cocktail bar in the long room. In total, there are three bars at the property compared to one at the old venue.
There’s the main bar, cocktail bar and then there’s the garden bar which will provide service to 150 patrons.
The accommodation, set to reopen in a month, has also been transformed.
It used to have 16 rooms and one shared bathroom but this has been turned into four ensuite bedrooms which are nearly ready.
The new venue will pay homage to the 145-year history of the pub, something the team behind the venture learned about during the excavations, uncovering various historic artefacts.
This article appeared in Narrandera Argus, 19 June 2025.
