In the late 1800s, gold mining was being carried out at a location about 12 km south of Batlow on the Paddy's River.

[3] The Miners Arms hotel at Laurel Hill was owned by the Waters family who held the licence until 1887, when it was taken over by Mr Dickson Currie.

The hotel was later sold to Mr George King, who remodelled the building, altering the roof and enclosing the front verandah.

[5][6] The Bago Plateau, to the south of Batlow, has a considerably cooler and wetter climate owing to its great elevation and exposure.

Snow is frequent from June to September, with heavy falls that can last for more than a week at a time in shaded areas, and can even occur in the late spring to early summer period on rare occasions.