Namoi Hotel expansion plans proceed

Work on the development of a new drive-through bottleshop at the Namoi Hotel in Maitland Street will begin in the new year.

Namoi Hotel licensee-manager, Jeff Eather, told The Courier the development was an exciting one for the community.

“This is the first stage of the redevelopment of the iconic Namoi,” he said.

“We are finding keen interest in the project.

“The development application which went to Narrabri Shire Council last week detailed that the covered drive-through and bottleshop will run from Tibbereena Street to Maitland Street,” he said.

“We are working through the process, and everything has been provisionally given the OK, and we are hoping to start work early next year.”

The redevelopment, flanked by the historic Faulkner’s Cordial Factory building and the Masonic Lodge, has seen the removal of an old residence on the site.

The addition of the bottleshop at the new Maitland Street site marks the start of major modernisation and expansion of the 108-year-old Namoi Hotel with redevelopment of new bars and drive-through sales, food services, accommodation and family-friendly facilities.

The Namoi has long been a familiar part of the community and now, in keeping with the tide of progress underway in Narrabri, will be developed to provide for an exciting future.

The Namoi changed hands at the beginning of the year from previous owners Wendy and Vince Weakley.

The new owners, led by Tim Ireson and Ben Cochrane, are a family business that operates successful hotels in metropolitan and regional NSW.

As part of the wider hotel redevelopment, the exterior and general structure will be retained, but the interior will be completely modernised.

The full development will take about eight months, with the expectation the ‘new ’Namoi will be welcoming patrons by the October long weekend next year, Mr Fisher said.

However, the hotel will continue to trade while work progresses, Mr Fisher added.

“Outdoor dining and beer gardens will also be activated along with a children’s playground facility.”

The owner’s focus will be to activate new areas catering for families in the district while also keeping the character and feel of the front of the hotel.

“We will be creating a family-friendly, community hotel,” said Mr Fisher.

“This is an exciting development for Narrabri.”