O'Connell Hotel, O'Connell
The O'Connell Hotel's been standing since 1865, cob earth walls, wattle and daub construction, and a liquor licence dating back to 1870. Right on the main road from Oberon to Bathurst, it closed for 18 months under new owners for a full restoration, right down to the historic sign on the roof, and reopened to a town that had genuinely missed it. More taps, more beer and cider on offer, a huge outdoor beer garden, renovated indoor areas, and accommodation next door if you're staying the night.
As manager Barry Scott put it a year after reopening, it's become "their little town hall in O'Connell."
Why we love it
It's the heart of the town, you feel it the second you walk in. Order a classic pub meal, grab a tap beer, find a spot in the beer garden, and let the afternoon do what it wants. Swing by Flat Rock on the Fish River afterwards, a quick detour off Mutton Falls Road and exactly the reset you want before pointing the car home.
Sign and hotel exterior photos: Australian Pub Project
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