Mulga Creek Hotel under new management

Owners Megan and Brodie McPhail with staff member Michelle Barger from Chicago. Photo TWH

Story and pictures Darren Masters The Western Herald

Email dmasters@outbackradio.com.au

The iconic Mulga Creek Hotel, affectionately known by locals as the Byrock Pub, has embarked on a new chapter with husband and wife team Megan and Brodie McPhail taking over from long-term owners Gail and Paul Kelly.

This change of ownership is part of a recent trend sweeping pubs across the region, but for the Byrock establishment, it signifies a continuation of its rich, almost 150-year history.

The Mulga Creek Hotel’s roots trace back to the expansion of mining operations in Cobar, with the original pub strategically placed three kilometres from the current Byrock site. Its location was crucial for overland transport routes, serving as a natural stop on the journey from the Bogan River to Cobar. By 1879, it had become a vital Cobb & Co change station. When the railway line was laid from Nyngan to Bourke, the entire village, including the pub, was relocated closer to the rail siding, solidifying its place as a crucial part of the area’s transport network.

The current solid-brick building, which sits on 35 acres, was built in 1984, replacing the Gateway Hotel across the road from the current location. That Hotel tragically burnt down in 1980. Today, it remains a quintessential bush pub, adorned with hats, memorabilia, and curiosities that tell tales of its past.

Its distinctive angled bar, along with handmade stools, furniture, and tables, crafted from local Mulga by the former Back Of Bourke Wood Art, showcases regional artistry and adds to its unique character. Regular visitors even contribute to the pub’s living history by adding their signatures to some of the ceiling the pillars annually. […]

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