The Wombat Hotel is set to reopen this Friday after 15 months of closure. Photo: Supplied.
For more than 160 years, the low-slung Wombat Hotel, perched alongside the Olympic Highway south of Young, has seen it all.
Bushrangers and goldminers once rumbled through its doors; today it welcomes bikers, car enthusiasts, travellers, locals, and the curious passing through.
Anzac breakfasts, birthdays, pub lunches and raucous parties have all played out within its walls, each a chapter in the town’s story.
When it closed 15 months ago, the Hilltops shire felt the silence keenly, and the small village of Wombat was left unusually quiet.
Now, after a long silence, the pub is preparing to once more throw open its doors thanks to a couple who just couldn’t shake the feeling some places are too alive to stay quiet.
Rae Barlow and Les McGown, who had run a pub near Byron Bay before retiring to the Northern Rivers, felt an instant connection – and a pang of sadness – when they first set eyes on the historic hotel.
“When I first walked in, I felt really sad that such a beautiful old building had deteriorated so quickly.
“We went back to the motel that night and said, ‘Can we do this?’ And we’ve said that about a dozen times since,” Rae said.
Sixteen intense weeks stood between them and now – Friday 24 October – which is when those old doors will churn out a lifetime of dust and beer, to open again to the public.
Rising damp, outdated plumbing, a worn septic system and old floors had to be addressed. The kitchen has been rebuilt, air-conditioning installed, refrigeration and gas systems upgraded, and the glycol system for the bar refurbished.
“The community has been incredible,” Rae said. “Neighbours turned up with drainage materials, helped with earthworks and were there just to cheer us on. It’s the kind of support that makes a place and the undertaking absolutely worthwhile.
“We’ve worked very hard, getting up sometimes at three in the morning, and it’s only now we’re at this stage where the public will see the finished work.”
Respecting the hotel’s history was central to the restoration.
Local historical societies and community members helped gather memorabilia and photos which will now appear digitally on a revolving screen, preserving them for future generations.
“We’ve tried to honour both the age and the place of this hotel in the community,” Rae said.
The pub has long been a hub for locals and travellers alike, as Rae is often reminded.
“Someone will come in and have a little chat and it’s amazing the memories they share, for instance, of sitting out in the car with a pink lemonade while their dad had a beer,” she said. “There’s a real sense of continuity about this place.”
Les McGown and Rae Barlow are the new owners of The Wombat Hotel. Photo: Rae Barlow.
Her hope is that when patrons walk back in it’ll be just like returning home.
“I think they’ll say, ‘Oh wow. It’s our pub,’” she said.
Yes, food and drink will remain at the heart of the refurbished hotel. Taste tests are already underway, and alongside the classic pub favourites, there’ll be a selection of new dishes for visitors to try.
But it isn’t just about the burgers, schnitzel and beers. The Wombat Hotel now heralds a games room and community space where locals can hold book clubs, poetry readings or casual gatherings.
“It’s inclusive,” Rae said. “We want people to feel welcome, whether they’re retirees, cherry pickers or travellers passing through. We’ll split meals in two if people want smaller portions. We just want everyone to feel comfortable.”
For Rae and Les, moving to a town of just 200 people hasn’t been a big deal.
“I just love it,” Rae said. “The people are friendly, neighbourly and full of character. It’s a fabulous community, and that’s what makes this experience so special.”
This project isn’t retirement in the conventional sense.
“We’re not very good at retiring,” Rae said. “This is actually our third retirement.
“We love the challenge, and the building had such lovely bones.”
The Wombat Hotel’s reopening is more than a business venture – it’s a revival of community spirit.
Events such as Australia Day and Anzac Day will again have the pub as a hub, and visitors can expect a place that feels alive with stories, history and camaraderie.
“I don’t think there’s a day we haven’t had two or three or four people drop in to say, ‘It’s great that it’s opening,’” Rae said.
“There’s a wonderful feeling,” Rae said. “People want their little hotel back. It’s actually what keeps the heart pumping in a small community like this.”
The Wombat Hotel is located at 95 Wombat Road, Wombat NSW, which is located between Harden-Murrumburrah and Young. You can’t miss it.
