The Railway Hotel
Later called "The Rabbit Warren" because so many families lived in it at one time.
It is known that Houlahan's Railway Hotel existed as far back as 1904, as a notice in the Namoi Valley Echo of 13th February, 1904, announced to residents that the Doctor visiting from Wee Waa could be consulted at Houlahan's Hotel. On 26th March 1904, the same newspaper gave notice of the granting of a licence to J C Dempsey for the Butten Junction Hotel. Wise's Post Office Directory of 1910 lists William Houlahan's Junction Hotel; however, it is thought Herbert William Sheehan operated from this hotel in 1910 as licensee. This is considered to be the same single-story dwelling situated on the eastern end of Slack-Smith Street (formerly Railway Street) and Houlahan Street facing the Railway. This was later turned into shared private residences, commonly known as the "Rabbit Warren", because of the number of families residing there, and its eventual fate was to be burned down.