Federal Hotel in Nimmitabel

Federal Hotel

The hotel was established by its founder Thomas Moran as the "Heart of the Monaro" and served its first ten years as a vital carriage stopping point for the postal, freight & passenger route. Built during spring & summer of 1889, the hotel opened before winter in 1890 as Moran's Federal Hotel.

The original building has since survived some 5 serious fires, a testament to the extensive use of local hardwood timbers which had been hand cut and laid in the original construction & quick actions of neighbours & locals.

The Federal Hotel has seen many owners/managers over the years being a rallying point on The Men From The Snowy River March of 1915, the workmen's drinking pub of the timber mill and railways, politician's shelter seeking a new national capital as well as production accommodation for filming of "The Sundowners" motion picture in 1959. During 1956-80 it was called the Tudor Inn Hotel by the Payten family, the Nimmitabel Hotel for a short time in 1990's before it returned to being the Federal Hotel again.

Over the years the hotel's appearance has changed colours, some of the exterior may have altered a little, but the renovations have ensured it has continued to operate a working hotel comprising of some 35 rooms.