Coonamble's Sons of the Soil Hotel will pass hands again after shire councillors voted to sell the historic venue to Melbourne-based construction company Contract Control Services (CCS).

Coonamble Shire Council voted unanimously at an extraordinary meeting last night to accept an offer from the company, just over two weeks before they go into caretaker mode ahead of the September 14 local government elections.

Mayor Tim Horan said a written agreement between the council and CCS included a condition that the site purchase will not be complete until planned development is finished and an occupancy certificate signed. 

 "The proposal hit the table last Monday and it came as a timed offer because CCS has other projects in the wings," Cr Horan said.

"It was attractive to council because it was about saving the hotel as is, having accommodation upstairs and offering a supermarket opportunity to local businesses as a first right of refusal.

"As far as we're concerned it meets all of what we were trying to achieve when we bought the site."

Senior council staff Barry Broe and Paul Gallagher with councillors Bill Fisher, Pat Cullen, Brian Sommerville and Mayor Tim Horan. PHOTO: River McCrossen.

He said conditions include a development completion deadline of up to 24 months, as well retaining as much of the building as possible in any redevelopment.

Council agreed to provide on-site parking for the development.

That cost will be added to what council considers their financial "contribution" towards the project - the difference between the amount spent to date to purchase and conduct reports on the site and the actual sale price.

Cr Horan said he could not disclose how much the council sold the hotel for. "It is part of a contractual arrangement," Cr Horan said. "But I promise it is not a secret and everyone will know.

"I expect it will be included in the quarterly budget review this September.

"It is not a small amount but that contribution will be delivered back to us in terms of savings and in benefits to the community one hundredfold."

Council owned pub

Councillors opted to buy the hotel in October 2023 for about $825,000 including GST, with plans to partially or fully demolish the site for redevelopment.

Cr Horan had supported the proposal to boost foot traffic in the town's main street, although it drew community opposition over the building's heritage value. 

Formerly named the Tattersalls Hotel, the venue was established in 1930.

Despite a small crowd of concerned locals who greeted the announcement regarding the sale with trepidation, councillors and senior staff were united in their enthusiasm for the outcomes.

"I think it's a great thing for the main street, we can only go forward from here," Councillor Brian Sommerville said.

Local, Maree Crawford, an opponent of the demolition of the pub, said she hopes SCC will "work with community on what we want to do with the building."

"I don't get why they (Council) bought the building in the first place to sell it a year later. What was the point?"

For the background on the original purchase, see more here.