Standing proudly in the heart of Windeyer, The Gold & Fleece Hotel is a true piece of Australian country history. Just over half an hour’s drive from Mudgee along the winding roads of Windeyer Road and Hill End Road, the hotel has been welcoming travellers, locals and prospectors for well over a century.
The building you see today was constructed in 1911, rising from the site of an even earlier inn that served the bustling goldfields community. Long before sealed roads and modern comforts, this spot was a vital resting place for those drawn to the promise of gold and a better life in the Central West.
Windeyer itself was once a thriving gold mining town during the mid-19th century. Originally known as Richardson’s Point, the settlement quickly grew following the discovery of gold in 1851. By 1859, the area was formally named the Village of Windeyer. History suggests the town may have been named after either Charles Windeyer, a Sydney magistrate, or Richard Windeyer, a prominent barrister and politician of the early 1800s. Whichever the case, the name has become firmly woven into the region’s story.
Gold shaped everything here — the people, the landscape and the places where communities gathered. As locals are quick to tell visitors, that story isn’t just history. Even today, gold can still be found by fossicking in the creeks and gullies around Windeyer, keeping the spirit of the goldfields very much alive. Through changing times, shifting fortunes and generations of stories shared over the bar, The Gold & Fleece Hotel has remained a constant. It has stood through the rise and fall of the gold rush, the quiet years that followed, and the renewed appreciation for Australia’s country pubs and regional towns.
Today, the hotel continues to be a cherished landmark and gathering place — a spot where locals meet, travellers rest their boots, and visitors can experience the character of a true country pub. Its enduring presence offers more than a meal or a drink; it offers a connection to the past and a glimpse into the rich tapestry of New South Wales history that still lives on in Windeyer.
Step inside, and you’re not just visiting a pub — you’re becoming part of a story that’s been unfolding for generations.