THE Royal Hotel in Canowindra is edging closer to reopening its doors after an extensive renovation that has transformed the 1910 building from top to bottom.
Local builder Ray Clements, who has completed much of the work, said the project had involved a lot more than just a coat of paint.
The work began after he was contacted about rendering work before becoming involved in the wider renovation.
“After that, he asked what else I could do,” Mr Clements said.
“We end up ripping the floor out of the bar, all the fridges, because the only thing holding it up was the vinyl.”
Since then, the renovation has included around three kilometres of new electrical cabling, extensive plumbing work, new pumps and upgrades to the kitchen and cellar.
The hotel’s accommodation rooms have also been repainted, re-plumbed and rewired, with the rooms being fitted out with amenities including televisions, fridges and kettles.
Outside, Mr Clements has transformed what was a rocky and overgrown area into a paved space with new fencing and a playground.
The family-friendly design is intended to allow children to play while parents relax nearby.
“When the kids are here, they can go out there, but they can’t get out,” Mr Clements said.
“So, the parents can sit here and have a drink under the tree.”
The building’s historic character has been retained wherever possible, with original floorboards and other features repaired rather than being simply replaced.
Mr Clements said the aim had been to preserve the building’s “old bones” while renewing the parts that were needed to bring it back into operation.
A private trial run is planned before the hotel officially reopens, with Mr Clements’ upcoming 60th birthday the perfect excuse to test the newly renovated venue.
“We won’t be open, but we want to give it all a test run,” he said. “There’s nothing worse than opening and having things break or not work properly.”
Mr Clements estimated the project could be about four weeks from completion, although he stressed the hotel would not reopen until everything was ready.
“Everybody wants it open, but we’re not going to open it until it’s ready,” he said.
