The return of the Fat Lamb Hotel

20/02/2026

16/02/2026

A massive thank you to everyone who emailed, called, messaged and shared our last post.

We have managed to secure a very generous offer from an architect willing to work with us to bring the fatty back to life.

What we need now..

Does anyone have any personal photos of the pub itself they are willing to share ?

If so please post them in the comments.

12/02/2026

Every town has that one pub people still talk about like it never closed.

In Eugowra, it’s the Fat Lamb.

And now it’s coming back.

For more than a century, a pub stood there — first as the John Bull Hotel in the 1860s, later as the Fat Lamb — watching the town grow from goldfields traffic and bushranger stories into the quiet Central West community it is now.

Then in 2012, fire took it.

One morning it was there, the next it wasn’t. No long goodbye. Just smoke, rubble and locals left pointing at an empty space where a lot of life used to happen.

Country towns feel that differently. A pub isn’t just somewhere for a beer — it’s directions, meetings, celebrations, arguments and Monday night debriefs rolled into one.

Eugowra carried on. It always does. Through drought, through floods, through the usual run of bad seasons and good ones. But the absence of the Fat Lamb lingered — like a sentence missing its last word.

Got a Fat Lamb story? You know what to do.

08/02/2026

🍺 Architect wanted 🍺

We have managed to jump a few hurdles this week and are now up to the design process.

If you are a qualified architect wishing to redesign an iconic landmark, or wish to push us into the direction of one , please reach out.

Alternatively if you have any design ideas or inclusions . Let us know in the comments.

The pub will be constructed on the original footings with a floor height of approximately 700mm higher than the original building.

22/01/2026

FATTY UPDATE

As we enter the new year we would like to let everyone know that we are still here, battling through council regulations and requirements .

We are still confident we can make a start on the rebuild in the first half of the year.

The remaining salvaged bricks will be showcased in a feature wall with an opportunity to immortalise your family or business name. Details to come ..

18/11/2025

You’ve heard of the pub with no beer but what about the beer with no pub? Once reduced to charred rubble and memories, the iconic Fat Lamb Hotel is set to make a triumphant return more than a decade after it was destroyed by fire. First opened in 1862, the Fat Lamb Ho­tel was a […]

16/11/2025

Introducing Ray Clements of Clements constructions .

Ray will be taking the reins of construction supervisor on this iconic rebuild.

Rewind some 162 years earlier the hotel was built and owned by pioneer Hanbury Clements.

Is there something you aren’t telling us Ray?

12/11/2025

Quick weekly update on the Fat Lamb

We’ve had good discussions with Cabonne council regarding flood plain building heights .

Development application will be submitted in the coming weeks .

Send us your best fat lamb memories

Photo credit . Warren Welsh

05/11/2025

Unearthed a piece of history today . Does any one know the story of the old Forbes torpedo bottle ? G @ J Eddy
Found under the original part of the hotel constructed in 1862

04/11/2025

The original stone cellar . Built in approximately 1860 will be showcased in the new build.

02/11/2025

The new chapter begins.