The Lismore rumour mill has been working overtime about the future of the Richmond Hotel (on Woodlark Street) since the catastrophic flood of February 28 literally wiped out the back of the building that was the Terrace Bistro.

(Photo of the Terrace Bistro soon after the floodwaters receded. Photo: Simon Mumford)

"This is a big job and it's just John and I," said owner Carol Quilkey, "we don't have partners or young kids wanting to carry on the business, you know the next generation, and it's going to take a while to resurrect the building and the business so we decided to sell."

It is just under 18 years ago that Carol and John moved from Bathurst to the Northern Rivers and take over the Richmond Hotel. They were into food with John a chef so thought they would try their hand at running a pub. Over the last 18 years, Carol and John transformed the place into a vibrant upmarket hotel with a reputation for good food. Their vibrant business also employed 30 local people including 9 chefs.

"It's heartbreaking for the staff, it's put them in bad positions where they have had to find other jobs which in many cases means travelling to Ballina each day with added costs and some living in different arrangements like caravans."

"This is the other side of the story, what happens to the staff. We've had senior management whose careers have been stalled. It's quite a human story going up the system if you like".

In terms of damage, the obvious part of the building was the Terrace Bistro where steel girders were ripped out from the building and swept away further down Browns Creek car park.

"That's how much water and force went through the CBD. Six people would find it hard to lift one of those," Carol said.

"It will be a total refit. We've peeled back four ceilings actually," Carol added, "As the years go by they say it's too hard don't peel back so build over the top of it. So, we have higher ceilings now (laughs)."

When asked the big question of "where to next"? Carol said, "We don't know yet. We are going to help people around the block for a while as there is no pressure to really work at the moment. We can paint a wall, help them do stock or whatever they need us to do. As you wander around you see the need that is there, it's obvious."

Say g'day when you see Carol and John helping out around the CBD and in the meantime, they have opened a pop-up bottle shop in Miss Lizzies selling the last of their alcohol stock between 10am and 4pm. Get into the CBD and support them as their Richmond Hotel journey comes to an end.