Fire destroyed pub splits town’s tiny population and gives rise to a committed clan of diehard drinkers

A mysterious fire in 2012 destroyed a country hotel and its four owners are divided over whether to rebuild the site or sell up, but that hasn’t stopped a small group of locals coming up with a strange solution.

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It’s the very opposite of the Slim Dusty song — a small country town that has beer with no pub.

For the past six years a small but devoted group of Eugowra locals have gathered for a beer at their beloved pub The Fat Lamb — the one problem is the pub no longer exists.

The Fat Lamb pub in Eugowra burned down in 2012.

A mysterious fire in 2012 destroyed the country hotel and its four owners are divided over whether to rebuild the site or sell up.

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The long stalemate has subsequently divided the town’s tiny population of just 780 and given rise to a committed clan of diehard drinkers who, rather than patronise the rival Central Hotel on the eastern side of town, choose to remain where the Fat Lamb once stood.

Drone photos of the pub. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

The pub is not what it once was. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

Ben Mulley is one of the two owners in favour of rebuilding the pub. “This place was the lifeblood of this town and it might have been burnt to bits but we just weren’t prepared to let it go,” he said.

“If you understand Eugowra you know that the town is split into east and west and divided by the Mandagery Creek

“We are in the west and there’s just no way we would drink on the other side of town. And the other side of town doesn’t come over here. So we plan on staying here and having a drink and a yarn until the place is rebuilt.”

Locals from Eugowra along with two of the new co-owners of the Fat Lamb Hotel gather to enjoy a Friday afternoon beer in the remains of the historic pub.

However, the hotel’s two other owners, Gordon Hurry and Dan Bitteren are lobbying to sell the site.

Mr Hurry said he has made several offers to buy out Mr Mulley and fellow part-owner John Augustin but had been unable to settle the dispute.