Doughty’s Hotel is one of two possible hotels at or near the current ‘Elouera Mine’ site. The other hotel listed at this location is ‘‘The Royal Hotel, Eloura’. According to local historians, both hotels could possibly be one and the same hotel under different licensees.
The history of the hotel follows the mining and mineral exploration boom along the same line of hills that include the major site (with up to five hotels) of Mt Drysdale, including Billagoe and Mopong. The Elouera location continues to operate as a working mining operation, though little has been recorded of the hotels that once occupied the area.
The Cobar Herald of 5 July 1905 notes:
“S. R. Doughty was granted a removal license from Drysdale to premises situated at C.S.A (Elouera), the condition being that the new premises will be assessed at 204(pounds) per annum with a fee of 30(pounds)…”
Cobar Herald, 1905
While The Western Age, 31 December 1918 reports:
“About 10 o’clock on Tuesday morning, 24th instant, a detached building consisting of three bedrooms situated in the yard at Doughty’s hotel, Elouera, was destroyed by fire. As very little water was available it was found impossible to subdue the flames. The origin of the fire is unknown, but it is thought may have been caused through some of the lodgers smoking…”
The Western Age, 1918
This may or may not have been the end of the pub as the Western Age also cited in April 1929:
“Sergeant Martin proceeded against Ernest Martin, licensee of the Royal Hotel, Elouera, for on Sunday 21st December 1919, failing to keep his bar closed to the public…”
Western Age, 1919