Susanna Freymark
Woodenbong Hotel is changing its name.
Publicans Julie and John Hayden announced their new trading name would be the Wood Duck Inn.
“This is what Woodenbong states in our Aboriginal tongue, Wood Duck on Billabong,” the Haydens said.
The new name comes one year after they bought the hotel. The hotel will still be called Woodenbong Hotel.
Still in Kyogle shire, Bonalbo’s Dog ‘n’ Bull Hotel has been sold.
The owners are not allowed to speak about the sale because of contract obligations.
It is believed the pub and its poker machines have been sold for $2.2 million, but that has not been confirmed.
The secrecy around the sale has locals baffled.
A real estate agent who asked not to be named said the pub was sold by the same Sydney broker who sold Tabulam Hotel.
“I would say it will be back up for sale in the next few weeks once they take the poker machines like (they did at) Tabulam and Mallanganee.”
As the Bonalbo Pub is being packed up, no one seems to know when the pokies will go or if there will be new owners who will open the doors and serve beer.
Tabulam Pub sat empty for months before it was re-sold to two residents who reopened the hotel.
There is a pattern in country NSW where pubs are purchased for pokies and the pokies are moved to a more profitable region.
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