Licensees
1859-1875 – William Henry Atkins
1876-1878 – Catherine Atkins
Location
The Pick and Shovel was located at Jembaicumbene within a quarter of a mile from the Jembaicumbene Creek in 1859-1860, and in 1863-641Richard Kennedy. Braidwood Goldfields. 1850’s – 1860’s. Compiled by Roslyn Maddrell. 4th Reprint. Bayprint, Batemans Bay, NSW. 2010. p 25 William Atkins, better known as ‘Nipper’ opened a pub close to where the Public School stood.
Moving to Araluen in 1863, and in 1867 the Pick and Shovel Inn was located in Newtown.
In the News
In August 1859, the Sydney Morning Herald reported2Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842-1954), Wednesday 17 August 1859, p 2 ‘Four months ago, speaking of the Jembaicumbene diggings, I reported that a “reef” had been discovered. After exhausting his means to sink through the quartz, the discoverer had to abandon his claim for something giving quicker returns. His shaft was lately “jumped” by another party, and a sort of crushing machine erected near the spot. This week a lump of quartz was bruised under the machine, and produced six grains of the precious metal. Before crushing, the lump did not weigh more than one pound. Should an association be formed to work this range, a new source of wealth may be brought to light. It is situated at the rear of Mr. Atkins’ Pick and Shovel Inn and is within a quarter of a mile from the Jembaicumbene Creek, which never gets dry.’
On 8 July 1863 the Freeman’s Journal3Freeman’s Journal (Sydney, NSW : 1850-1932), Wednesday 8 July 1863, p 4 reported ‘Araluen is now the centre of attraction amongst the different gold-fields in this district, the population increasing every day, most of the population leaving Jembaicumbene for this place. It is said that Atkins, Dunn, and Coleman are all coming here, in consequence of Jembaicumbene having now become a dead letter, or next door to it.’ In September 1863 an advertisement was placed in The Araluen Star, 4The Araluen Star and Miners Right (1863- 1964), Saturday 5 September 1863, page 1 noting the transfer of the Pick and Shovel Inn, to a new hotel in Araluen, near the Farm, and immediately leading from Braidwood to Crown Flat.
An advertisement was placed in The Araluen Star in May 18635The Araluen Star and Miners Right (1863-1964), Saturday 28 November 1863, p 1, for Thomas Pillar, Stonemason, Bricklayer, Plasterer, at Mr Atkins, Upper Araluen.
The ‘Pick and Shovel Opening Ball and Supper‘ was advertised in The Araluen Star6The Araluen Star and Miners Right (1863-1964), Saturday 26 March 1864, p 3, scheduled to be held Easter Monday on the 28th March 1864. It was noted as a ‘sort of memento of his (William Atkins) entrance on the present premises, at Upper Araluen, the usual house warming having been postponed.’
In 1867, the Goulburn Herald and Chronicle7Goulburn Herald and Chronicle (NSW : 1864-1881), Saturday 20 July 1867, p 4 reported on the third accident in Araluen yesterday which happened to ‘Mr. Patrick Kennedy, of Reidsdale, who was driving a cart in company with his wife, and by some means or other the wheel passed over him opposite Atkins public house at Newtown. He was removed into Atkins’, where our informant heard him moaning shortly after the occurrence, but did not hear the nature of the injuries he had received.’
The 1875–76 Greville’s Official Post Office Directory8Greville’s Official Post Office Directory 1875-76 https://www.ihr.com.au/secure/html/greville75.html. page 17 Accessed 18 February 2023. lists William Atkins, Innkeeper in Araluen.
In 1886, the house and premises formerly known as the Pick and Shovel Inn were listed for sale, and sold to Robert Higgins9NSW Land Registry Service, Parish and Historical Maps. Historical Land Records Viewer https://www.nswlrs.com.au/Parish-and-Historical-Maps. Accessed 17 February 2023 in 1887.
