The first iteration of the Lightning Ridge hotel was the Imperial Hotel, which was also the town’s first available accommodation. A single storey building on the corner of Opal and Morilla Streets, the building was constructed for Richard Legge and Tooth’s Brewery in 1909. The building was made of cypress pine in a chamfer board construction, an economical building style.
Outside the pub was the local notice board for the community, attached to a single shady tree – this became known as the ‘tree of knowledge’. In a frontier settlement of mining claims and potential fortunes, one of the first justices of the peace in town used to make decisions beneath the shade of the tree, in what was accepted as a ‘neutral location’ before there was a police presence in town. It later evolved to become a notice board and makeshift post office where parcels and pick-ups were left for collection.
The Imperial Hotel burned down in 1927, the volatile cypress crackling and sparking in the dry bush air, and for a while there was an effort to relocate the licence to Walgett. This was met with vigorous opposition by the locals, with even the local constable coming forward to speak in favour of keeping the licence in Lightning Ridge, citing that it was a key community asset.
The pub was rebuilt and renamed the Diggers Rest (in 1963 – the year power was laid on in the village and permanent water became available to citizens), and it continued to operate until 2006 when the unfortunate hotel was again burned to the ground. Strange that the poker machines were not damaged! It was discovered that the licence had been removed to the coast by the then owners.
The cleared block where the history of Lightning Ridge hotels once stood is a silent memorial to the drinkers and miners of the past.
While there is a very successful Lawn Bowling Club and a number of licensed restaurants in Lightning Ridge, the only pub that exists today is the Outback Resort, also known as New Town Hotel, a tavern-like business within the sprawling accommodation, caravan park, camping and restaurant complex.
Today
Outback Resort
It might be the last pub standing in Lightning Ridge, but the Outback Resort has got plenty to offer, pretty much everything you need actually. Located on the main road into town, right across from the Tourist Information Centre, the Outback Resort is a sprawling complex of motel accommodation, camping, bistro and bar.