'This has been our biggest challenge': Rebuilding The Northern Rivers Hotel

Tony Durheim has overseen the rebuild after his parents Len and Julie purchased the hotel in August.

Since then, Tony and his son James have worked tirelessly to reinvigorate the much-loved pub.

"It's every Australian's dream to own their own pub," Tony said.

"It took a while to convince mum and dad, Len is nearly 80 and we had to talk him into it. They're both really proud of what we've been able to achieve.

"If it wasn't for the flood we wouldn't be here, but it just turns out that we were able to fix it and get it back up and running again.

"We're really happy with what we've been able to do in a short period of time."

Tony said it had been an eye-opener in the last month in seeing how much the pub means to Lismore.

The Northern had been closed since the floods in 2022 and residents nearby were worried about the future of the establishment.

"Speaking to some of the locals over the last month you realise how much the pub really means to them," Tony said.

"This is really all there is between them and the outside world for a few of them and one thing that has really stuck in my mind is how much they love their pub."

Tony plans to take a step back now with his daughter Laura the licensee.

They have enlisted Darrell Crockford as the publican.

He has decades of experience in the industry and was most recently licensee at The Rous Hotel after working at the Gollan Hotel for many years.

"We never even thought about asking anyone else, we only wanted Darrell," Tony said.

"We still have a few things to sort out in the kitchen, but other than that we're up and running.

"The place needed work 20 years ago. That was what a lot of people were saying on social media and we saw it first hand," Tony said.

"It was pretty bad, we were here every day for four months and sometimes wondering how we were going to fix certain things, but we got there in the end.

"We've painted some of the rooms upstairs three or four times and they still peel and bubble. Moisture over many years has caused that problem and we've sorted that out now, too."

The rooms are set to house long-term residents who will be working in Casino at the meat works.

"We wanted to make it a family friendly hotel with a playground and room for the kids," Tony said.

"We've got a really nice beer garden and no other pub in Lismore has anything like it."

There will be some star power at the venue in the coming weeks with former Wallabies Nick 'The Honey Badger' Cummins and Elton Flatley making an appearance. Anthony George has helped organise the visit which will celebrate the opening of the kitchen.

Anthony has filled the venue with Wallabies, NRL and Olympic memorabilia throughout the main bar and seating area.

There are signed pieces from former Wallabies captain John Eales and rugby league great Brad Clyde in the main bar.

Tony said it had been a group effort with good people involved.

"My son James is a builder. He found three young guys to help over the four months and they did an incredible job," he said.

"When he finished his apprenticeship in Brisbane he moved back home to fix this up.

"He has a few more houses around Lismore to do and then he is looking at coming back to run a carpentry business.

"Our family has been involved in a few other businesses, but this has been our biggest challenge.

"I look forward to just coming over in the afternoons now and seeing people enjoy themselves."

The pub will have up to a dozen fulltime staff once the kitchen is fully operational.

The night with the former Wallabies will be held on a Friday with a date yet to be announced.