Conargo Pub: Historic southern NSW hotel returns after 2014 fire

It has been shut for nearly eight years, but the famous Conargo pub is back in business from Sunday.

Beers will start flowing again on Sunday at one of rural Australia’s best known watering holes.

The Conargo pub will open its doors for the first time in eight years, after being closed for repairs due to a major fire.

Conargo residents and nearby family families in the western Riverina were left devastated when the hotel built in 1867 was badly damaged by fire in November 2014.

Conargo pub stickers are slapped on utes and cars all acros Australia and the district’s long standing links to the Merino sheep industry were displayed inside the hotel formerly known as the Billabong Hotel.

Part-owner of the Conargo pub, Michael Lodge Picture: Zoe Phillips

Leading the rebuild has been brothers, Paul and Michael Lodge, whose parents Neville and Betty Lodge owned the pub from 1956 to the early 1980s.

“We’re doing it because it’s been such a big part of our lives,” Paul said.

“But it’s important that the area has a pub again.

“There’s been a lot of hoops to jump through to get to this point.

“It’s not like building a house.

“There are so many rules and regulations associated with commercial buildings.

“It hasn’t been a cheap exercise.”

Part-owner Michael Lodge at the rear entrance to the Conargo pub. PICTURE: ZOE PHILLIPS

The single storey building’s famous facade has been retained and the pub will open with a bar, bistro, function room and an outside meals area looking over the Billabong Creek, but no accommodation at this stage.

“It needed a lot of work,” Mr Lodge said.

“It’s taken about two years to do the full rebuild.

“We want to make it a destination pub again.

“We want to make the food a bit special because we’re competing with pubs in Deniliquin.

“We’ve got to do something to get people to come out.”

Fire destroyed the Conargo Pub, north of Deniliquin, in 2014.

Conargo farmer Richard Knox said the community was eagerly awaiting the pub opening.

“Everyone is very excited,” he said.

“It’s been tough without a pub, that’s for sure.

“The main thing is it will bring the community back together.

“We did start to wonder about six years ago whether it was ever going to reopen.”

The reopening coincides with the return of the Deni Ute Muster after Covid.