A spontaneous trip to Conargo sparked something for Michael Lodge.
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The iconic Conargo Hotel, which was destroyed by fire in 2014, was his late father, Neville's, pride and joy for around 25 years, so he decided to buy it back.
Mr Lodge and brother, Paul, spent the first 20 years of their lives at the Riverina pub after their father took it over in the 1950s and turned it into the legend it is today.
The pub, situated in the remote town 30 kilometres north east of Deniliquin, was in the family until 1980 and was most famous for its black and white Conargo Pub stickers, which can been seen on utes and other vehicles across the country, and even overseas as Mr Lodge discovered.
"I did a world trip a few years back and I was in Paris and was walking along the Champs Elysees past the Arc de Triomphe and there was a car parked on the side and my wife said 'look at that, it's a Conargo Pub sticker'," Mr Lodge laughed.
I did a world trip a few years back and I was in Paris and was walking along the Champs Elysees past the Arc de Triomphe and there was a car parked on the side and my wife said 'look at that, it's a Conargo Pub sticker'.
- Michael Lodge
"It was unbelievable. It was on one of those little Mercedes Smart cars.
"People have told me they've seen them in London, New York and all over.
"My brother (Paul) commissioned someone to make those stickers up when he was in school and that's how it started.
"He said to me he wouldn't mind 50 cents for every one that's been sold (laughs)."
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After leaving Conargo in his 20s, Mr Lodge moved to Queensland and started an earthmoving company, which he ran for more than 20 years before semi-retiring on a farm at Dorrigo on the NSW northern tablelands, about an hour inland from Coffs Harbour.
"I got a bit bored so I went around the world and did a few things and we got back and I told my wife I was going back through Deniliquin for a look," he said.
"I went through Conargo about a year ago and called in and saw the woman that was running the Conargo Store and asked her what was happening with the hotel because it burnt down in 2014 and there was nothing happening.
"She said it belonged to a couple of shearers, Charlie White and his brother Bob.
"They had a couple of designs done but they came in way over the top of what they can afford.
"I rang Charlie and we arranged a meeting at the pub and formed another company with my brother to buy it."
Mr Lodge has spent the past week tidying up the site and has submitted some revised drawings to Edward River Council, with the goal of having it reopened by next year's Deni Ute Muster in October.
"Basically it's a love thing for Paul and I," he said.
"There's no money in it, we've done the sums on it and pubs aren't the best return for a business these days, but we're attempting to get it done for a reasonable price.
"It's more for the memory of my old man and my brother because we spent a lot of our youth there and knew a lot of people.
"I don't want to run it, I've been down that road before but Charlie and Bob have expressed interest in it and they're good young blokes."
Mr Lodge has already witnessed how much it will mean for the town of less than 200 people to have its pub back.
"I've had at least 20 people come in and see me because I brought a couple of machines down and have been running around cleaning it up," he said.
"They're thinking the pub has been rebuilt, so I've had to calm them down a bit (laughs).
"It really surprised me how much work they've put into Conargo since I've left with the halls and the oval. It looks really good now.
"Everything changes, but you have fond memories and you act on those I suppose."