Innkeepers of mid-western NSW 1832-1881

Margaret Keenan's Diggers Arms Hotel
Margaret Keenan's Diggers Arms Hotel, Gulgong, c1872
(SLNSW: American & Australasian Photographic Company
(Holterman collection)
ML ref. ON 4 Box 4 no. 18361 : "Home and Away" frame 38989)

Selected extracts from the records

These databases were compiled as part of my research for Michael Keenan's story.  They are not complete, and are published here only as a potential aid for fellow researchers studying the same place and period.

From State Records NSW: Treasury. Butts of publicans' licences, Jun 1830-May 1849, CGS 14401 and Certificates for publicans' licences, 1 Jul 1853-30 Jun 1861, CGS 14403

Year Surname First District Sign Butt No. SR reel
1833 Keenan Michael Bathurst The Traveller 363 5051
1834 Keenan Michael Bathurst The Traveller 401 5052
1835 Keenan Michael Hassans Walls The Travellers Inn 410 5052
1836 Keenan Michael Vale of Clwyd The Travellers Inn 383 5053
1836 Rossie James Hassans Walls Vale of Clwyd The Eagle & Child 40  
1837 Keenan Michael Vale of Clwyd The Travellers Inn 414 5053
1837 Eames William Vale of Clwyd The Case is Altered 302 5053
1838 Mylecharane Phillip County of Cook The Eagle & Child 174 5054
1838 Kenny Dennis Solitary Creek Queen Victoria 391  
1839 Mylecharane Philip Hagans Wall, Vale of Clwyd The Eagle and Child 17 5055
1839 Eames William Hartley The Beehive Inn 483 5055
1840 Keenan Thomas Bathurst The Coach & Horses 64 5056
1840 Eames William Hartley The Beehive Inn 390 5056
1841 Eames William Hassans Walls Hartley The Beehive Inn 177 1236
1842 Mylecharane Philip Hartley The Eagle & Child 241 5057
1843 Mylecharane Philip Hartley The Eagle & Child 36 5058
1844 Mylecharane James Penrith The Woolpack Inn 525 5059
1844 Mylecharane Philip Hartley The Eagle & Child 99 5059
1845 Keenan Michael Bathurst The Travellers Inn 39 5059
1845 Mylecharane James Penrith The Woolpack Inn 337 5059
1845 Mylecharane Philip Hartley The Eagle & Child 182 5059
1846 Mylecharane James Penrith The Woolpack Inn 308 5060
1846 Mylecharane Phillip Hartley The Eagle & Child 310 5064
1847 Mylecharane Esther Hartley The Eagle & Child 297 5065
1847 Mylecharane James Hartley The Eagle & Child 211 5061
1848 Mylecharane James Hartley The Eagle & Child 61 5058
Apr 1853 Frost Henry Crown Ridge Welcome Inn 250 5063
1853 Mylecharane Eliza Hartley The Woodman 726 5064
1853 Mylecharane Esther Hartley The Eagle & Child 717 5062
1856 Mylecharane Esther Hartley The Eagle & Child 908 1238
1836 Dargin John Bathurst The Coach and Horses 257 5053
1837 Dargin John Bathurst The Coach and Horses 129 5053
1844 Barnaby Thomas Bathurst The Coach and Horses Inn 513 5059
1845 Barnaby Thomas Bathurst The Coach and Horses 122 5059
1846 Barnaby Thomas Bathurst The Coach and Horses 535 5060
1847 Barnaby Thomas Bathurst The Coach and Horses Inn 33 5061
1848 Barnaby Thomas Bathurst The Round Swamp 58 5062
1850 Barnaby Thomas Rylstone The Coach and Horses 162 1241
1853 Barnaby Thomas Jackalls creek Bathurst The Coach and Horses 385 5063
1856 Barnaby Thomas Rylstone The Coach and Horses Tr/Gr p64 1239
1858 Barnaby Thomas Rylstone The Coach and Horses 423 1240

From the Bathurst Free Press

Year Surname First Situation Sign BFP date & page
1850 Keenan Thomas Crown Ridge, Mudgee Rd Crown Inn 20 Apr 1850 p4
1851 Keenan Thomas Crown Ridge, Mudgee Rd (bush inn) Crown Inn 19 Apr 1851 p4
1851 Barnaby Thomas Round Swamp (bush inn) Coach and Horses 19 Apr 1851 p4
1852 Keenan Thomas Refused   1 May 1852 p2
1853 Barnaby Thomas Round Swamp (bush inn) Coach and Horses 1 May 1853 p2
1853 Frost Henry Crown Ridge, Mudgee Rd Welcome Inn 23 Apr 1853 p2
1853 Thompson David Ben Bullen Ben Bullen Inn 23 Apr 1853 p2
1853 Barnaby Thomas Jack-All creek Coach and Horses 23 Apr 1853 p2
1853 Walton William Running Stream Turon Inn 23 Apr 1853 p2

From the NSW Government Gazettes

Year Name First District Situation Sign Page no Date awarded
1866 Ashbury John K Hartley Ben Bullen Ben Bullen Inn 173, 1857  
1866 Heard Richard W Hartley Crown Ridge Crown Ridge Hotel 1857 annual
1866 Shervey J Rylstone Mudgee Rd Caper-tree Inn 1865 annual
1867 Heard Richard W Hartley Crown Ridge Crown Ridge Hotel 1898 annual
1867 Shervey John Rylstone Mudgee Rd Caper-tree Inn 1901 annual
1868 Heard Richard W Hartley Crown Ridge Crown Ridge Hotel 2876 annual
1868 Neal George Hartley Red Bank Crown Ridge Hotel 4017 Oct 68
1869 Keenan Margaret Bathurst Jew’s Creek Jew’s Creek Inn 102 Dec 68
(see SMH 30 Dec 1868 for Jew's Creek rush)
1869 Ainsworth Joseph Bathurst Jew’s Creek European Hotel 398 Jan 69
1869 Ashbury John K Hartley Ben Bullen Ben Bullen Inn 398 Jan 69
1869 Mellon Patrick Hartley Crown Ridge, Sod Wall Creek Stranger’s Home 398 Jan 69
1869 Hyland Thomas Bathurst Dirty Swamp Rd The Friend to All Nations 1055 Mar 69
1869 Hyland Thomas Bathurst Dirty Swamp Rd The Friend to All Nations 2132 annual
1869 Keenan Margaret Bathurst Jew’s Creek Jew’s Creek Inn 2132 annual
1869 Heard Richard Hartley Crown Ridge Crown Ridge Hotel 2132 annual
1870 Keenan Margaret Bathurst No 7, Sodwalls, No 7, GWR Jew’s Creek Inn 1923 annual
1870 Walsh Michael Hartley Ben Bullen, Mudgee Rd Ben Bullen Inn 1923 annual
1871 Rowe Richard Hartley Crown Ridge Crown Ridge Inn 986 Apr 71
1871 Carroll Robert Hartley Nr Rydal No 7 Hotel 1951 annual
1871 Hanna Hugh Hartley Sodwall Creek Main Camp Inn 1951 annual
1871 Lane Edward Hartley Piper’s Flat, Rydal Welcome Home Inn 1951 annual
1871 Mellon Patrick Hartley Crown Ridge Stranger’s Home 1951 annual
1871 Neale George Hartley Sodwall Creek Crown Ridge Inn 1951 annual
1871 Rowe Richard Hartley Crown Ridge Crown Ridge Inn 1951 annual
1871 Sorrall Michael Hartley Mudgee Rd Junction Inn 1951 annual
1871 Walsh Michael Hartley Ben Bullen, Mudgee Rd Ben Bullen Inn 1951 annual
1871 Hines Abraham Rylstone Nr Crown Ridge Capertee Camp Inn 1951 annual
1871 Keenan Margaret Gulgong Gulgong, Herbert St Digger’s Arms 2584 Oct 71
1872 Keenan Margaret Gulgong Herbert St Digger’s Arms 2412 annual
1872 Rowe Richard Hartley Crown Ridge Crown Ridge Inn 2412 annual
1872 Sorrall William Hartley Mudgee Rd Junction Inn 2412 annual
1872 Walsh Michael Hartley Ben Bullen, Mudgee Rd Ben Bullen Inn 2412 annual
1872 Winters Harry Hartley Wallerawang No 7 Hotel 2412 annual
1872 Sleavey James Rylstone Nr Crown Ridge Capertee Camp Inn 2412 annual
1873 Keenan Margaret Gulgong Herbert St Digger’s Arms 2459 annual
1873 Rowe Richard Hartley Crown Ridge Crown Ridge Inn 2459 annual
1873 Sorrall William Hartley Mudgee Rd Junction Inn 2459 annual
1873 Waiters H (now Chas Curtis) Hartley Wallerawang No 7 Hotel 2459 annual
1873 Towers John Hartley Ben Bullen Black Horse Hotel 2459 annual
1873 Walsh Michael Hartley Ben Bullen, Mudgee Rd Ben Bullen Inn 2459 annual
1873 Sleevy James Rylstone Nr Crown Ridge Caper-Tree Camp Inn 2459 annual
1874 Keenan Margaret Gulgong Herbert St Digger’s Arms 2637 annual
1874 Rowe Richard Hartley Crown Ridge Crown Ridge Inn 2637 annual
1874 Walsh Michael Hartley Ben Bullen, Mudgee Rd Ben Bullen Inn 2637 annual
1874 Shervey James Rylstone Nr Crown Ridge Caper-Tree Camp Inn 2637 annual
1875 Keenan Margaret Gulgong Herbert St Digger’s Arms 2761 annual
1875 Paddison George Hartley Crown Ridge Crown Ridge Inn 2761 annual
1875 Shervey James Rylstone Nr Crown Ridge Caper-Tree Camp Inn 2761 annual
1876 Paddison George Hartley Crown Ridge Crown Ridge Inn 3643 annual
1876 Walsh Cornelius Hartley Ben Bullen, Mudgee Rd Ben Bullen Inn 3643 annual
1876 Shervey James Rylstone Nr Crown Ridge Caper-Tree Camp Inn 3643 annual
1876 Keenan Margaret Gulgong Herbert & Belmore Sts Digger’s Arms 5033 Nov 76
1877 McIntyre Michael Gulgong Herbert & Belmore Sts Digger’s Arms 3367 annual
1877 Paddison George Hartley Crown Ridge Crown Ridge Inn 3367 annual
1877 Walsh Cornelius Hartley Ben Bullen, Mudgee Rd Ben Bullen Inn 3367 annual
1877 Shervey James Rylstone Nr Crown Ridge Caper-Tree Camp Inn 3367 annual
1878 McIntyre Michael Gulgong Herbert & Belmore Sts Digger’s Arms   annual
1878 Paddison George Hartley Crown Ridge Crown Ridge Inn   annual
1878 Walsh Cornelius Hartley Ben Bullen, Mudgee Rd Ben Bullen Inn   annual
1878 Shervey James Rylstone Nr Crown Ridge Caper-Tree Camp Inn   annual
1879 McIntyre Michael Gulgong Herbert & Belmore Sts Digger’s Arms 4054 annual
1879 Paddison George Hartley Crown Ridge Crown Ridge Inn 4054 annual
1879 Walsh Cornelius (now Radburn Chas) Hartley Ben Bullen, Mudgee Rd Ben Bullen Inn 4054 annual
1879 Shervey James Rylstone Nr Crown Ridge Caper-Tree Camp Inn 4054 annual
1880 McIntyre Michael Gulgong Herbert & Belmore Sts Digger’s Arms 4054 annual
1880 Radburn Charles Hartley Ben Bullen, Mudgee Rd Ben Bullen Inn 4054 annual
1880 Shervey James Rylstone Nr Crown Ridge Caper-Tree Camp Inn 4054 annual
1880 Paddison Mary Hartley Crown Ridge Crown Ridge Inn 4855 Jul 80
1881 McIntyre Michael Gulgong Herbert & Belmore Sts Digger’s Arms 4695 annual
1881 Paddison Mary Hartley Crown Ridge Crown Ridge Inn 4695 annual
1881 Radburn Chas Hartley Ben Bullen, Mudgee Rd Ben Bullen Inn 4695 annual
1881 Shervey James Rylstone Nr Crown Ridge Caper-Tree Camp Inn 4695 annual
1881 Varley John Rylstone Crown Ridge, Mudgee Rd Great Western Railway Hotel 4695 annual
1882 Shervey James Rylstone Nr Crown Ridge Capertee Camp Inn 4695 annual
1882 Varley John Rylstone Crown Ridge, Mudgee Rd Great Western Railway Hotel 4695 annual

In 1881 the Crown Inn was destroyed in an explosion.   The Sydney Morning Herald of 18 August 1881 described the accident in graphic detail.

FATAL DYNAMITE EXPLOSION IN NEW SOUTH WALES. [BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.] (FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT ) SYDNEY, Wednesday. About 8 o'clock on Monday morning a dreadful accident occurred at Mrs. Paddison's Hotel, Crown Ridge, distant about 20 miles from Wallerwang, on the Mudgee-road, It appears that a gentleman named Charles Gault, who was acting as agent for a dynamite company, had made an appointment with Mr, Monie and Mr, Morton, two of the Mudgee railway contractors, to meet .them that morning at Mrs. Paddison's hotel, for the purpose of testing the dynamite, some of which he was trying to dispose of to them. When the servant girl took his breakfast into the room, Mr. Gault was seated at the table writing. But a few minutes had elapsed after the girl left the room when an awful explosion was heard. On the smoke and dust clearing away, and when the confusion had subsided, it was noticed that the whole building, with the exception of the bar and two adjoining rooms, had been completely demolished. Mrs. Paddison and her family escaped unhurt, but they received a great shock, and were blackened from head to foot. A search was made for the unfortunate gentleman, when one leg with a portion of the body attached was found hanging to the rafters, the trunk and a portion of the head being discovered on the roof of the kitchen about 30 yards away from the scene of the explosion. The entrails and the other leg were tom to shreds, and distributed in every direction, A magisterial inquiry was held at the hotel on Tuesday, when a verdict of " Killed by the accidental explosion of dynamite," was returned. Shortly after the inquiry was held the remains were placed in a coffin, and taken to Bowenfels for interment. The face has not yet been found. The quantity of dynamite that must have exploded was 14 1b., as that was the quantity the unfortunate deceased had previously stated he had brought for testing.

The Licensing Act of 1882 (with amendments 1883) revolutionised the system of licensing in NSW and resulted in many of the old bush inns losing their licences because they could not meet the new standards.  See NSWGG 1881 p.6617 (Dec 1881). Among others, Margaret Keenan's Digger's Arms ceased trading as an inn, and Margaret and her second husband Michael McIntyre retired to Sydney.   The land belonging to the Crown Ridge Inn was eventually sold in 1900 to Michael Corlis of Bandanora.

© 2006 Patricia Downes

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