In the name of modernisation verandahs have been torn down, vibrant and colourful beer ads have been plastered across the front of some and the general feel has changed substantially.

Others have delved into their archives and sought to recreate the look of the past by reinstating verandahs and balconies.

However, one, the Metropolitan Hotel, has basically kept its looks and styling for more than a century.

The Metropolitan was built in 1864 as John Woodward’s store.

The hotel's website says it was only the second brick store to be built in Orange.

It became a hotel in 1886 and John West was the first licensee.

When it was built Byng Street was the main road in the early days of the new settlement of Orange.

Substantial buildings including the courthouse, town hall and major hotels were constructed along it.

It took until the Dalton Brothers store was constructed in the second half of the 1800s before the CBD focus switched to Summer Street.

Records of the Metroplitan Hotel in the 1900s are contained on brewery records compiled for the Tooths Brewing Company by travelling hotel inspectors.

Those records, on yellow cards, are now part of the Noel Butlin Archives Collection which are held by the Australian National University and are open to the public through its Open Research website.

The first visit recorded by an inspector occurred in 1925 but his comments were unflattering about the hotel.

"Two storey brick, poor appearance, wooden verandah, three mirrors, end of town," he wrote.

The inspector pointed out the eastern end of the top floor which he said had been altered.

He also noted there were several licensees through the 1920s to the pub which was tied to Tooheys.

A later inspection in 1939 indicated about 4000 pounds had been spent on renovations including new bars and bedrooms the year before, but it said "exterior still same."

And the cards noted that further renovations were to be carried out in 1956.