If you look at a map of western New South Wales, you’ll find Byrock marked neatly between Nyngan and Bourke on the Mitchell Highway. 

But search for the town itself and you’ll be hard-pressed to find much more than a single landmark: the Mulga Creek Hotel. In truth, Byrock and the pub are one and the same. This humble watering hole is the last surviving reminder of a once-busy staging post, and today it stands proudly as a beacon of hospitality in a harsh but beautiful landscape.

Back in the late 1800s, Byrock was alive with movement and noise. Cobb & Co coaches rattled through on their way between Bourke, Brewarrina and Cobar. The settlement boasted three pubs, a police station, a telegraph office and, later, a railway siding. Drovers, shearers, stockmen and coach passengers all stopped here for a meal, a bed or a stiff drink before pressing on into the outback.

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But like many country towns, Byrock began to fade when the coaches stopped running and transport routes shifted. People moved away, the buildings closed and the town all but disappeared. Today, only the Mulga Creek Hotel remains – a solitary building that carries the spirit of Byrock forward. It’s both a pub and caravan park, dining room and history lesson, and a reminder of how important these outposts have always been for those travelling the long, lonely roads of western NSW.

While the history is fascinating, the Mulga Creek Hotel is far from a dusty relic. The pub has recently been taken over by Brodie and Megan, a young couple who saw its potential to breathe new life into this historic stop. They’ve thrown themselves into the challenge with energy and passion, keeping its character intact while adding a welcoming warmth that makes travellers feel right at home.

For Brodie and Megan, it’s about more than running a business; it’s about preserving a piece of outback history and ensuring the Mulga Creek Hotel remains a vital stop for the next generation of explorers. Their fresh approach blends traditional country hospitality with a modern sense of community – and it’s evident the moment you step through the door.

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Despite its remote location, the Mulga Creek Hotel offers everything you need to rest and recharge:

  • Pub rooms: Simple, comfortable and air-conditioned — perfect for a quiet night off the road.
  • Caravan & camping: Powered and unpowered sites are available, with clean showers, toilets and a camp kitchen. There’s plenty of space to roll out the swag if you’d rather sleep under the stars.
  • Bar & dining: Cold beer on tap, a pool table for a friendly challenge, and hearty meals that hit the spot. Steaks, schnitzels, burgers and daily specials make up the menu — and the portions are generous.
  • Extras: BBQ facilities, laundry, a kids’ playground and a firepit out the front where stories flow as easily as the drinks.

It’s no five-star resort, and it doesn’t pretend to be. What you’ll find instead is clean, practical accommodation, good food and a genuine outback welcome.

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On the Mitchell Highway, the long stretches between towns can be tough going. Fuel stops, food and accommodation are spaced far apart, so places like the Mulga Creek Hotel are essential. But this pub offers more than just a practical break:

  • It’s Byrock: Without the hotel, the town would disappear completely. Staying here means keeping a piece of history alive.
  • Hospitality: Brodie and Megan’s energy shines through in every meal served and every story shared over the bar.
  • Basecamp potential: From here, you can head into Gundabooka National Park, explore Bourke’s historic attractions, or simply break the journey between Nyngan and Bourke.

What makes the Mulga Creek Hotel truly special is the experience of staying there. Pull up a chair in the bar and you’ll soon find yourself chatting with truck drivers, grey nomads, station workers and fellow adventurers. Step out to the firepit and you’ll sit beneath a sky that feels impossibly vast, the Milky Way stretching overhead in dazzling clarity.

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It’s a simple place, but one that leaves a deep impression. The longer you linger, the more you appreciate that pubs like this aren’t just places to eat and drink – they’re vital lifelines connecting people across a vast and sometimes unforgiving landscape.

The Mulga Creek Hotel may be the last piece of Byrock still standing, but thanks to Brodie and Megan it’s far from the end of the story. Their enthusiasm is infectious, and their commitment to keeping the doors open ensures this outback pub remains a fixture for years to come. For travellers, that means a place to rest, refuel and reconnect; both with history and with each other.

The Mulga Creek Hotel is more than just a pub; it’s an outback institution – and the local post office. With a proud history dating back to the Cobb & Co days and a bright future in the hands of its young new owners, it’s a stop every traveller should make. Whether you’re camping under the stars, booking a room for the night or just pulling in for a cold beer and a hot meal, you’ll find yourself part of Byrock’s story – even if only for a night.

Essential information

  • Location: Mitchell Highway, Byrock NSW 2831
  • Contact: (02) 6874 7311; [email protected]
  • Beer: Behind the bar you’ll find a solid line-up of popular brews on tap: Great Northern Super Crisp, VB, Tooheys Old and Carlton Dry. The fridges are stocked with beer cans and stubbies, as well as RTDs and soft drinks. Wine drinkers are looked after too, with a small but tidy list of Aussie reds and crisp whites, and there’s a good range of spirits for those who like to finish the night with something a little stronger.
  • Food: Classic pub feeds are the go here, with chicken parma or schnitzel, scotch fillet and T-bone steaks cooked just how you like them, battered flathead and homemade burgers stacked high and messy. If you’re lucky, there might be a roast of the day on the specials board. All meals come with salad and chips, and the kids have some good options too. Meals are served from 12pm to 2pm and 6pm to 8.30pm, seven days a week.
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