Former Central Australian Hotel in Bourke

Former Central Australian Hotel

Standing like a forgotten temple to art deco architecture, this closed watering hole looked towards the former railway line to Bourke (closed 1990).

Apparently the old hotel was known locally as the 'Central', certainly the Central Australian Hotel is a curious name for a pub in north western NSW.

I did some detective work and apparently a local Bourke plumber bought the building five years ago with the view to providing backpacker accommodation.

Not too much has occurred in the restoration game to this incongruous building as seen by the photos – the only art deco building in town.

- Glenn Ryan. Thanks Glenn

Additional Comments - Roy Howarth

Interesting facade - unless I'm mistaken it looks like a Victorian-era Pub that had been stripped of its ornate lattice-work and mouldings to give it a "modern" face in the jazz era. The wrap-around balcony would be a giveaway as to its origins.

It would be interesting to see if it was equally modernised inside (geometric patterns, wall/bar tilework etc), or if the ornate Wunderlich pressed ceilings are still in place!

- Roy. Thanks Roy