John Swasbrick (Snr.) and the licensee was Mrs. W. Davis. In December 1930 a fire destroyed the Royal Hotel. At the subsequent inquiry by the Coroner it was pointed out that “although the building was constructed chiefly of concrete and iron with an absolute minimum of wood, the building was on fire throughout its length and breadth in an incredibly short space of time, the fire spreading rapidly even against the wind”. The inquiry revealed that “the owner was not in embarrassed circumstances, although the licensee was” and returned an open verdict regarding the origin of the fire. In June 1933 John Swasbrick died at his residence, the Royal Hotel, aged 79 years. At the time of his death Swasbrick was the owner and licensee of the hotel. The Royal Hotel at Mount Hope offers cold drinks and hot beverages. It serves counter meals and snacks and has accommodation facilities, but fuel is no longer available at the hotel. The Royal claims to have the only concrete bar in New South Wales. Environment Mount Hope is surrounded by three extensive nature reserves: Yathong, Nombinnie and Round Hill. The reserves comprise a large area of plain and ridge country on the boundaries between three major biophysical regions: the Cobar Peneplain, the Darling Depression and the Southern Riverine Plain. The area protects the largest remaining contiguous stand of mallee in NSW and supports a rich diversity of flora and fauna, including many rare and endangered species. Round Hill Nature Reserve (south-east of Mount Hope), Nombinnie Nature Reserve (to the south) and Yathong Nature Reserve (to the north-west) are included in the 2,500 square kilometres Central NSW Mallee Important Bird Area because of its significance for bird conservation, especially of the malleefowl and red-lored whistler. Notes and references External links Towns in New South Wales Cobar Shire Mining towns in New South Wales