The Dog N Bull Hotel is situated in a small village called Bonalbo off the main roads the towns got a caravan park, bowls club and petrol station and local shops this is small town/village with a population of around 300 people. It’s worth the drive to this town great family run with a little creek runs though the town the chickens and roasters walk the streets freely, this town started as many small towns started with a farmer needing a community to prosper in 1911 land was purchased from McNamee and several buildings some built and owned by McNamee formed the basis of the town. There was a butcher's shop, hotel, billiard hall, post office, St Andrew's Presbyterian Church and “yes” Scottish heritage, a school, a boarding house, a blacksmith's, a bank, a general store, and a butter factory. The pub is the hub of the town a newer style pub as the old one burnt down in 1985 the original pub was established in 1909, I couldn’t find a photo of the original pub, if anyone has one I would like to add it to this blog just e-mail to me danielhickeymedia@gmail.com . Bonalbo is a convenient country drive rest stop on the scenic border ranges routes linking Queensland's Southern Downs with the northern Tablelands of NSW. I stayed at the pub Dog N Bull Hotel has 4 motel style room a public Bar and Bistro. Guests can choose from a variety of rooms including Double, Single and Triple which are fully serviced every day. Private ensuite, air-conditioning, small bar fridge and tea and coffee making facilities, toaster and television.
Bonalbo offers some amazing sights in and around the town on my stay, the pub had a “Eat Street” were the fire truck blocked of the road in front of the pub and food stalls set to raise money for local charity it was a great night with the locals coming out to enjoy the food and entertainment, Bonalbo has the Yabbra State Forest to explore with some spectacular eucalypt trees, bellbirds in the top of the trees and rainforest walks of the side of the road if you keep driving out north to Urbenville you will find signposted Bean Creek Falls.
Bonalbo is claimed to have had the State's first dog trials 52 years ago and was also a famed centre for bull sales. A bronze statue of a working dog was unveiled in April 2017. Bonalbo as the birthplace of working dog trials, in 1841 only four years after arriving in Sydney, drove sheep from the Hunter Valley to the Bonalbo district where he established the 'Bunalbo' or Duck Creek run. I found this place on my way the Tabulam Rodeo after visiting the Casino Beef Week

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Mendooran is the oldest town on the Castlereagh River and is something of a mecca for horse sports, with the Mendooran Cup, held annually for more than 153 years. And the heart of any town is the pub The Royal Hotel was built in 1926, and what a pub big comfortable family rooms or double bed and just a bit better than the average hotel. It been a long drive between pubs and a need for a beer in the public bar and this bar is dripping with history that could tell a lot of tales and a really cool fireplace but don’t be tempted to through another log on you need to read the sign or you will cop it.

Food, after per taking in many a schooner of Toohey’s old and the offering of a 500gm T-bone, I declined and settled for a 300gm sirloin steak with veg it was better than Melbourne fine dining a week earlier, a bit worried in country pubs about the wine selection been poor, the publican with a smile went under the bar and pulled up a nice high end eight year old red from her private stock too wash down that tender full flavoured grass feed sirloin.

Meet some of the locals in town great conversation to be had, old mate explaining the big race day and months of preparation and how the town get behind it and a bit about the pubs history and the town been around in 1856 with deed and land sales the inn keeper /publican of the day stabled the horses and was the sadlier and blacksmith. The original pub was across the river were the bridge stand today.

Early morning breakfast in the breakfast room coffee, cereals and toast and a look around downtown Mendooran heaps of historical buildings a café in the middle another pub now bed and breakfast, Mechanical Institute built 1935 and public building police schools court house about 1880

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