The road into Young, NSW winds through cherry orchards and golden hills. The air smells of blossom and sun-warmed earth. Opposite the old Blackguard Gully goldfields is the Old Brick Pub, Young, a Hilltops wine region getaway, and its red bricks hold more than a century of stories.
Once, this was the Burrangong Hotel, built in the late 1860s by Charles Johnson, a young publican who welcomed weary miners with good beds, hearty meals, and secure paddocks. Over the years, the inn weathered neglect and silence until Susan and Craig Hardy, with their son Sam of Hardy & Co Construction, decided to listen to it again.
Sam lead the careful rebuild. Together, they strip back the years brick by brick, board by board, uncovering hand-moulded convict bricks, curved pot-bellied walls, and even an 1898 penny tucked behind an architrave. Every find is a whisper from the past.
Suez was enthralled with her dream of keeping the past alive, and the family’s devotion and hard yakka, transformed decades of wear, embracing the building’s imperfections rather than erasing them. Every uneven wall and handmade detail reminds guests that history can be beautiful and enduring.
The Welcome at the Old Brick Pub, Young – A Hilltops Wine Region Getaway
The Old Brick Pub, Young now welcomes up to four adults. Granite walls keep the space cool in summer and a fireplace warms rooms beautifully in chilly months. Suez’s touch is everywhere. She’s turned door handles from recycled copper, light shades woven from salvaged fence wire, and selected vintage pieces. In the bathroom, a repurposed concrete twin tub has become a generous sink.
You’ll notice a super generous welcoming hamper when you arrive, filled with delicious Hilltops wine region produce. There’s fresh crusty bread, local cheese, seasonal cherries, homemade preserves, and a lovely bottle of local wine to dark chocolate-covered cherries, honey and Riverina fresh milk. Settle by the fire, enjoy a stein of Alk Porter and share a platter of goodies while resident horses and alpacas graze quietly nearby.
Slow Days in Young
Wander the orchards and vineyards of Young, Australia’s cherry-picking capital, where cherries are ready from Nov to Dec. Pick at Cates Farm or Stony Creek Orchard, taste creamy cheeses at local farm gates, and sip a shiraz or tempranillo at Grove Estate or Barwang Winery.
Follow the trails along Burrangong Creek and the Blackguard Gully diggings, where traces of the gold rush remain like old shafts, scattered stones, and the occasional relic hint at the miners’ dreams. The Lambing Flat Museum and Young’s heritage streets offer more glimpses into the past. For more inspiration, see Things to Do Around Young on Travellarks.
Return to the Old Brick Pub, Young as the sun dips behind the gums. Light the fire, pour a glass of wine, and let the land, still humming with history, slow you down. It’s more than a stay, it’s a Hilltops wine region getaway that celebrates history, craftsmanship, and connection to place.
Suez Hardy’s Studio, Young
Behind the pub, a quiet shed holds the Green Glass Studio, where Suez Hardy transforms recycled glass into one of a kind jewellery. It’s a small echo of the same care and patience that brought the Old Brick Pub back to life and a reminder that creativity and attention to detail flow through both the building and the hands that restored it.
