Morgue, pub and mine for lease as village ponders return to golden days

Hill End, a village in New South Wales that was once the second-largest inland city, is now offering a unique opportunity for entrepreneurs and community builders. With a current population of only 110, down from over 8,000 during its 1870s gold rush heyday, the village is seeking to recapture its former vibrancy.

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We've been renovating buildings, we've been offering them as short-stay accommodation, but this isn't our core business.

The NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) has invested $5 million over the past five years in renovating key buildings across Hill End. These efforts aim to revitalize the historic gold-mining settlement near Bathurst. Now, 16 properties, including an old hospital, a morgue, a pub, and the gold mine itself, are available for lease.

David Crust, Blue Mountains branch director for NPWS, described the leasing opportunity as "rare." He explained that while the service has been using some buildings for short-term accommodation, it's not their core business. "We recognise there are people that've got much better expertise in providing those opportunities than National Parks," Crust stated.

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We recognise there are people that've got much better expertise in providing those opportunities than National Parks.

The NPWS is actively seeking proposals that will benefit the community and enhance visitor experiences. Crust highlighted Hill End's "incredible historic heritage" and its past as a bustling town with 28 pubs. The goal is to transform it into a "thriving community" once again.

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It was the second biggest inland town in New South Wales in the 1870s. There were 28 pubs in operation and over 8,000 people. It's got this incredible historic heritage.

Among the most challenging properties is The Royal Hotel, which has undergone significant renovations, including salt and damp remediation, drainage improvements, and structural upgrades. The NPWS has spent approximately $1.5 million on the pub since it closed unexpectedly last year. The hotel features a bar, beer garden, kitchen, and 20 beds upstairs. "What we're really hoping happens here is we start to build increased visitation, we start to extend the period of time people spend and stay in Hill End," Crust said.

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But it's also a living village. There's still a small resident population. We want to enhance that, we want to make it a really thriving community, and we want to bring people in here for fantastic visitor experiences.