After more than three decades the Edmonds and Schofields have called time on the partnership running the Commercial Hotel in Curlewis, finding a new owner from Newcastle.
In 1987 Gwenda and Kevin Edmonds, and Robert and Margaret Schofield, went into business owner-operating the Commercial on Curlewis’ Railway Street, around 300 kilometres north-west of Newcastle.
Robert’s family had owned the Hotel Nundle, 100 kilometres east, for three generations. The Edmonds bundled up their three children, move off their farm near Nundle, and moved into the pub.
The pub was built 1912 on a 2,000sqm site, quickly followed by the Royal Hotel, but by 1987 Curlewis had just the Commercial, with the local coal mines beginning to fade.
It counts a large public bar, commercial kitchen and dining space, and broad accommodation offering, via nine pub-style rooms, six en-suited motel rooms, and a large vacant lot for caravans and campers.
The Edmonds went on to live at the Hotel for three years, until Jan Cummins was hired as licensee. The family consequently moved to Gunnedah, 20 kilometres north of Curlewis, into what was known at the time as the Regal Hotel, which they had recently purchased from Tooths Brewery.
For many years Peter Louis was licensee at the Commercial, before deciding in 2018 to move on. This brought Kevin Edmonds back into the pub, with his daughter Mel becoming publican.
Early 2019 a refresh was undertaken to much of the interior, as the foursome explored the idea of selling the asset.
In October they began shopping it around through Deane Moore of Moore & Moore Real Estate, looking for sale price north of $1.1 million.
This month the keys will be handed over to Jack Ford, ushering in a new era for the pub and town, as mining in the area ramps up again.
“Big counter meals and icy-cold beers,” will be front and centre on the menu, according to Moore.
“Jack plans to encourage patrons from outside the small country town to visit and enjoy the historic Hotel.”
The Edmonds say they are looking forward to retirement from the pub scene and spending more time with kids and grandkids, but are still entrenched and staying in the region, planning to help Ford get familiar with the pub and town and staff, as they ease away from the legacy of past half of their life.
