When the doors of the Coolamon Hotel closed in early 2020, the town of Coolamon, in regional New South Wales, felt its absence. A heritage pub with more than a century of stories behind it had gone quiet, dark and dusty. That is, until locals Megan Taylor and Craig Patterson decided to bring it back to life. The idea turned into a five-year restoration project that reimagined the hotel – not just a place to rent a room, but as a place to gather, celebrate, and reconnect.
Megan Taylor led the design vision for the hotel and was closely involved in every aspect of the project, from structural work to interior styling. Lighting was part of that process, and the team chose NEOZ Victoria cordless lamps for their elegant form and ambient warmth, using them throughout the venue to bring out the character of each space. We spoke with Megan about the journey, the choices, and the importance of designing something truly welcoming.
Co-owners Craig Patterson and Ryan Bartholomew
The Coolamon Hotel has such a great story and connection to the community. What drew you into the project?
My partner Craig Patterson grew up in Coolamon, and his family has probably been there as long as the hotel. I am from a property not far from Coolamon. Family reasons had brought us back to the area from Sydney, and we were often visiting relatives in town. The hotel was closed in early 2020 and sat empty for many months. As we would drive past the closed hotel, we kept thinking that someone should do something to save such a beautiful building—until one day we decided that we would give it a go. The hotel had been a very important part of the community. Craig’s father had worked there, and Craig spent a lot of time there in his youth, so this project was very special and personal to us.
Now that the doors are open, what has it meant to you and to the community to see it brought back to life?
It has felt like a huge milestone to finally have the doors of the Coolamon Hotel open again. It has been a five-year journey for us, and as anyone who has restored a heritage building will tell you, it is never an easy process. There are many times in a project like this when you feel like giving up, but we tried to keep our eye on the goal. The community of Coolamon were a huge support and encouragement to us. That support has continued in spades since we opened, and we have been so delighted and grateful for the fantastic reception we’ve received.
Five years of renovations have brought a new lease of life back to the 145-year-old pub
What kind of character were you going for? How did you balance the hotel’s heritage with something new?
The original hotel was built on the same site in 1880. That structure burned down, and the hotel we have today was built in 1910, though it has been changed and modified over the years. We wanted to create a building that fit with what people wanted now, but was still in tune with its heritage. The building had beautiful bones, so we restored wherever we could, and where we had to build new, we tried to keep in the spirit of the original. We reused over 10,000 bricks from parts of the existing structure. We didn’t want a museum—we wanted a building that felt like it had evolved and flourished over the last 145 years.
What role did lighting play in shaping the mood and atmosphere? What kind of ambience were you focused on?
Lighting was incredibly important to us in this project. We used it to highlight the heritage features of the building and to give every room its own character and feeling. Being a country hotel, we wanted to create an atmosphere that would be welcoming and warm, like being invited to a friend’s country home. We also wanted to pay tribute to the character of the building, with all its details and eccentricities, and lighting has definitely played a large part in this.
The main dining room with our Victoria Antique Bronze cordless lamp
What made you choose NEOZ cordless lamps for the project?
We first saw the NEOZ lamps at one of our favourite hotels in Sydney, The Dry Dock in Balmain. They were so beautifully made, and the design of the lamps went so well with the look and feel of our hotel—it was like a perfect match. And when we found out they were Australian-made, that confirmed for us that the NEOZ were the perfect choice for the Coolamon Hotel. Now that we have the NEOZ lamps, we use them in every area of the hotel. They give the perfect ambience to every room—welcoming, relaxing, and with a touch of style. Switching on the NEOZ lamps instantly turns a room into something special.
Any advice for others taking on this kind of restoration project?
Like a lot of things in life, it probably won’t be easy—but the end result will be well worth it. I would say to anyone looking to do this kind of project to visit as many similar venues as you can, and if possible speak with the people who did the project and get as much advice as possible. We had amazing help from companies such as Sydney Pressed Metal and Porters Paints, and one of their specialist guild painters, Brent Seach. Look for builders, architects, and consultants that have had experience in heritage building—and also for the specialist trades that make all the difference.
The Lounge is tastefully decorated and pays homage to the past.
When in Coolamon
Coolamon Hotel is located at 73 Cowabbie St, Coolamon NSW 2701, Australia
They are open seven days a week from 11:30 am till late.
