“The Cugong Hotel was built in 1886… it was opened by the famous mail contractor, Cobb & Co coach driver, and father of fifteen, Patrick (Paddy) Byrnes, who remained there until his death in 1900 at the age of 94.”
In the same year a licence for the Cugong Hotel was granted to Edward Byrnes, who later went on to lease the Albion Hotel in Condobolin.
Interestingly, the Pastoral Times (Deniliquin) has the following mention from 15 February 1868;
“…At the Police Court, before Dr. Clarkson and J. Downie, Esq., J. P. John Vivant applied personally for a license for certain premises at Cugong on the Lachlan River, to be called the “Cugong Hotel.”
After making inquiries as to whether the applicant had made provision for keeping a supply of forage, & c., and otherwise complying with the conditions of the Publicans’ Act, the application was granted…”
Another earlier reference in the Cootamundra Herald, 12 March 1878, describes a man being killed by lightning strike crossing the Lachlan near Cootamundra, adding;
“…On the same day, and at about the same time, a shepherd and his dog were both killed by the electric fluid, somewhere near Cugong, about thirty-five miles below Condobolin…”