Hill End Village Offers 16 Sites for Lease

The article is written by Lani Oataway.

It is from ABC Central West.

The topic is Regional Communities.

The article was published on Friday, July 10, 2026, at 6:29 am.

David Crust says that the National Parks and Wildlife Service spent about $1.5 million to fix The Royal Hotel. The hotel is now ready for new owners. The National Parks and Wildlife Service also spent more than $5 million to fix other old buildings in the village.

In short, the village of Hill End has 16 old buildings that are for lease.

Sixteen old buildings in Hill End are now available for lease.

The state's National Parks and Wildlife Service spent over $5 million to fix these old buildings.

What happens next?

People who are interested in leasing these buildings must apply by Friday afternoon.

Hill End was once a big city, but now it has a small population of 110 people.

The NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service spent $5 million to fix the old buildings in Hill End to make the village more attractive.

The National Parks and Wildlife Service spent more than $5 million to fix the old buildings in Hill End over the past five years.

Now, an old hospital, morgue, pub, and gold mine are among the 16 properties available for lease.

David Crust said that the National Parks and Wildlife Service fixed the buildings, but it is not their main job to run them as businesses.

The National Parks and Wildlife Service wants people with good business ideas to lease the buildings.

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David Crust said that the National Parks and Wildlife Service is looking for ideas that will benefit the community.

Hill End was a big town in the 1870s with 28 pubs and over 8,000 people.

There were 28 pubs and many people in Hill End in the 1870s. The village has a rich history.

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David Crust said that Hill End is a living village with a small population, and they want to make it thrive with new businesses and visitors.

The Royal Hotel is the most important building in the village, but it might be hard to make it profitable.

The Royal Hotel is being fixed, including repairs to the foundation, drainage, floors, and painting.

The National Parks and Wildlife Service spent about $1.5 million to fix The Royal Hotel since it closed last year.

The Royal Hotel has a bar, a beer garden, a kitchen, and 20 rooms for guests.

David Crust hopes that with new businesses, more people will visit and stay in Hill End.

The General Store was once a cafe and is now available for lease.

The National Parks and Wildlife Service thinks that with more visitors, businesses like The Royal Hotel will be more successful.

A micro pub in an old shop is an example of a new business in Hill End.

When The Royal Hotel closed, Cara George opened the Hill End Micro Pub.

Cara George opened the Hill End Micro Pub in November.

Cara George said that every community needs a pub where people can meet.

Cara George and her husband want to lease The Royal Hotel and run it as a business.

For Cara George, running The Royal Hotel is not just a business, but also about keeping the village's heritage alive.

If Cara George gets The Royal Hotel, she will turn the micro pub into a whisky and tapas bar.

Cara George wants to make sure that the village has a future for her children and other families.

Being true to the village's history is important for its success.

Jhob Drinkwater, a gold panning tour guide, said that the village is ready for new businesses.

Jhob Drinkwater said that the village has lost some old residents and needs new people to come and live there.

Jhob Drinkwater gives gold panning tours to children and families.

Jhob Drinkwater said that parents often tell him about similar tours they had when they were young.

Jhob Drinkwater said that it is like a circle, where people come back to the village with their own children.

The village's authenticity is what makes it special.

Visitors can walk through an old mine tunnel and climb out using the original shaft from the 1870s.

People who are interested in leasing the buildings must apply by Friday afternoon.

The National Parks and Wildlife Service will decide who gets the leases in March.

The article was published on Friday, July 10, 2026, at 6:29 am.

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