The number of Public Houses in Araluen ranged from the 1850s when two publican licences were granted, to the gold mining era and the early 1860s when ‘life on the fields was very fast with about 40 hotels’1Richard Kennedy. Braidwood Goldfields. 1850’s – 1860’s. Compiled by Roslyn Maddrell. 4th Reprint. Bayprint, Batemans Bay, NSW. 2010, p 25 to the second half of the 20th century when there was one remaining hotel owner who ‘was the centre of social life’.2Chris Woodland. Araluen. A History through Photographs c. 1840 – 2000. Snap Printing, Williamstown, VIC. 2014. p 44
Richard Kennedy, JP (1848-1923) of Reidsdale,3Braidwood Dispatch and Mining Journal (NSW : 1888 – 1954), Friday 1 June 1923, p 2 although only very young when Araluen was in it’s zenith, possessed a wonderful memory and had many anecdotes of the roaring days of the field. He shared these under the non de plume of ‘Old Hand’, through a series of articles written in 1907 for the Braidwood Dispatch, dealing with the early history of Araluen. He says ‘in January 1853 I went to Araluen‘, just following the discovery of gold. At the foot of the first pinch on the old mountain the first public house was erected by Mr V. Greenwood.4Kennedy, Braidwood Goldfields p 14 A goodly number of men arrived from other fields and a few pubs and businesses started.5Kennedy, Braidwood Goldfields p 15 First of all Joseph Taylor opened a pub, and then Armstrong opened a pub and later boarding houses and a store, just under the graveyard hill, and Tom Taylor [The Happy Valley Inn] a pub more towards Majors Creek.
NSW State archives show two licenses granted in 1857.6 Museum of History New South Wales. https://mhnsw.au/indexes/publicans-hoteliers-innkeepers/publicans-licenses-index. Accessed 14 February 2023
In 1857, a new rush occurred at Mudmelong and Sweeney’s Flat. A hotel opened at Mudmelong by Fedder Jensen and he did a roaring trade and then at Sweeney’s Flat, James Patrick Sweeney Mahoney (commonly called Sweeney) opened [Cornstalks] hotel, store and butchers shop.7Kennedy, Braidwood Goldfields. p 22
Favourite Flat broke out and two hotels were opened, one [Favorite Inn] by Dennis Barratt and the other by Carney, followed by Crown Flat which was full of hotels8Kennedy, Braidwood Goldfields. p 23 operated by Proprietors – Ned Powell, John Gilligan, Lenny Kennedy, R. McDonald, Billy Greenwood and others.
‘By 1858 there were about 700 persons on the lower diggings, many stores and seven or eight public houses besides the sly grog shops (or unlicensed venues), for the yield of gold was sufficient to allow of a large grog expenditure.’9Barry McGowan. The Golden South. A History of the Araluen, Bells Creek and Majors Creek Goldfields. Capital Fine Print, Canberra. 2000. p 55
It has been suggested that publicans competed to quench the thirst of the population and the proprietor of the Great Eastern Hotel, Newtown, (or perhaps the Great Southern Hotel) had an enterprising solution, advertising barmaids from Sydney, who were to arrive by special coach.
People and Places
Over 70 publicans and innkeepers, have been identified as being granted licenses for the Hotels, Inns and Taverns. These people are detailed on a list (a work in progress) compiled from publicly available records.
Over 60 Hotels, Inns and Taverns have been identified, including those listed above on page 16, in the ‘The History of Araluen‘ written by Lindsay and Roger Thwaites in 2001. This list (a work in progress) is compiled from publicly available records.
There were many small settlements along the Araluen Valley. Appreciating that population changes would necessitate location changes, and the house may appear in different locations, listed below (a work in progress) are the Public Houses and their [approximate] locations:-
- Upper Araluen – Albion Hotel, Caledonia[n] Inn, Happy Valley Inn, Mountain Inn, Peace and Plenty, The Rising Sun.
- Burketown (also known as ‘Bourketown’)- Currency Lass, Exchange Hotel, Free Selection Inn, Golden Point Hotel, Horse and Jockey, Shamrock Inn, Welcome Inn.
- Newtown – All Nations Home, Australian Arms, Clare Castle, Criterion Hotel, Great Eastern, Happy Valley Inn, Harp of Erin, Lamb Inn, Malster’s Arms, Odd Fellows Arms, Perseverance Inn, Poor Mans Inn, Pick and Shovel, Racecourse Hotel, Salutation Inn.
- Redbank – Araluen Arms, Belfast Hotel, Criterion Hotel, Diggers Rest, Erin-go-bragh, Hand of Friendship, Kangaroo Inn, London Inn, Northumberland Arms, O’Connell Arms, Peace and Plenty, Star Hotel, Steam Engine, Travellers Rest.
- Crown Flat – Araluen Arms, Cricketer’s Arms, Currency Lad, Emu Inn, Erin-go-bragh, Old House at Home, Rose and Crown, Star Hotel, Thistle Hotel, Three Twins Hotel.
- Mudmelong– Commercial Hotel, Cornstalks Inn, Cottage of Content, Diggers’ Retreat, Doncaster Tavern, Emu Inn, Favorite Inn, Fountain of Friendship, Old House at Home, Nil Desperandum, Rochester Arms, Sapling Point, Union Inn.
- Others – Bells Creek – Diggers Arms, Halfway House, Limerick Inn, Mountain Inn, Rose, Shamrock, and Thistle, Star of Erin. Plains – Halfway Hotel, Limerick Inn, Merricumbene – Jubilee Hotel, formerly Half-way House, Moruya Hotel.
Fires and Floods
Kennedy remembers a most destructive fire which took place in March 1857 which totally destroyed Mr Armstrong’s [Peace and Plenty] hotel and outbuildings.10Kennedy, Braidwood Goldfields p 18 When the fire burnt through the wood and touched the spirits, the hogsheads would explode, which reportedly were seen from as far away as Bells Creek, Majors Creek and in Lower Araluen opposite Crown Flat. Unfortunately the place [hotel] was uninsured. However, with the generous support of the community, Armstrong had the business going again in about two months.
As Kennedy writes on the night of 10 February 1860 ‘a most terrible flood11Kennedy, Braidwood Goldfields. p 24 occurred on the lower part of the valley down about Mudmelong, Sweeney’s Flat, and higher up to Crown Flat, with property swept away, hundreds of diggers left without shelter, and lives lost. Carneys place [Cottage of Content] was swept away and seven members of the family (with the exception of one child) were drowned. Mr Barrett’s hotel was swept away, but was kept in place by a large fallen tree. Mr John Gilligan’s [Erin-go-bragh] hotel at Crown Flat, was thrown open to all who needed assistance.‘
On the Goldfields
By August 1860, the centre of attraction at Araluen was Crown Flat with the Old house at Home relocated to Crown Flat, leaving James Watts [Emu Inn] as the only pub at Mudmelong.12McGowan. The Golden South. p 58
Kennedy recollects many of the names of the innkeepers and publicans.13Kennedy, Braidwood Goldfields. p 25 ‘In 1863–64, William Atkins, better known as Nipper opened a pub [Pick and Shovel] close to where the Public School stood. Life on the fields was very fast with about 40 hotels, naming a few beginning in Upper Araluen where Armstrong’s and Taylor’s were, then at the foot of the mountain, Armstrong opened a fresh hotel, then next came Brisset’s, Downey’s, Bennison’s store which was turned into a hotel run later by Phillip Madigan, then Nipper’s Peppers, Bollards later run by Grimshaw, then Schymouth’s, who also ran a brewery.’
‘Then came Thomas Scantebury’s, Jackson’s, Johnson’s, Tom Geahy’s, Costello’s, Stack’s, Kingsland’s, Hayes’, Doyle’s, Singer’s, Grover’s, Greenwood’s, Lynche’s, McDonald’s, Gilligan’s, Powell’s, Kennedy’s and, later on at Crown Flat, Hoskins. Lower down the creek were Barrett’s, Carney’s, Sweeney’s, Jensen’s and Morris’. On Araluen West at Burketown there were Bourke’s, Hogan’s, Madigan’s, Bates’, and Jack Darch’s where the old court house stood.’
In 1863 and 1864, The Araluen Star and Miners’ Right newspaper displayed advertisements for many of the establishments, as did the 1864 Braidwood News and General Advertiser.
By September 1863, Redbank was the new centre of activity.14McGowan. The Golden South. p 66 An inquiry in 1866 into the local law enforcement reported 15McGowan. The Golden South. p 67 ‘too much latitude was given to the Araluen public houses, suggesting they were kept open on Sundays, and at improper hours and music and dancing entertainments were held almost without check‘.
Public Houses
‘For sale’ advertisements placed in the newspapers of the time, provide insight into the breadth and scale of these public houses.
In January 1869 the Race Course Hotel (1865–1871)16Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842-1954 was advertised for private sale and described as
‘Centrally and most advantageously situated at NEWTOWN, ARALUEN, . . .
The spacious Bar, with every convenience, paneled throughout with cedar, with patent Beer Engine and other requisites ; large private sitting room adjoining, with two large Bedrooms leading therefrom.
The Bar Parlour; the Commercial Room, with Bedroom attached.
The capacious Ball Room, with walls paneled and in perfect order, and two Bedrooms adjoining.
The splendid Billiard Room, furnished with one of Hopkins and Stevens’ best tables, and leading there from are two Bedrooms completely furnished and all in excellent order.
The Lodge Room, the same size as Ball Room, and directly over is in constant demand, being used by all the principal societies in the valley, and being of itself no trifling income to the proprietor. An Ante Room adjoins.
There is also Bath Room, with plunge and shower bath, and a hair-dressing establishment attached to the premises.
The outbuildings comprise large sleeping apartment, kitchen, furnished with every convenience, ovens, furnace and boilers, wash-house, sheds, a 9-stall stable and forage room, all enclosed with paling fence. Also, a two acre paddock.
The trade to the establishment is large and respectable, and the bottle business very extensive. The proprietor now retires into private life, and the auctioneer has free power to state that everything in connection with house, shares in gold claims, etc, are for positive sale. 2 shares in Big Engine Claim 89 shares out of 20 in Wooden Bottom Claim, 9 claim horses, drays and harness, Buggy, horse, and harness.
An early application is necessary, either to Mr. R. U. THOMAS, Newtown, Araluen; or to Mr. TEES, John Frazer and Co., Sydney.’
1870s
By 1870, Araluen was an old and settled goldfield. Publican licenses were 4 pounds a month, with the 1871 Census17Historical and Colonial Census Data Archive (HCCDA) Dataverse (ANU) https://dataverse.ada.edu.au/dataset.xhtml?persistentId=doi:10.26193/MP6WRS . Accessed 14 February 2023. detailing in West Araluen (Upper Araluen, Bourketown and Newtown) 1,339 residents (752 males, 302 of whom are mining gold and 587 females) and 4 hoteliers, and East Araluen (Redbank, Mudmelong, Merricumbene, Favourite Flat and Crown Flat) 2,900 residents (1,606 males, 583 of whom are mining gold, and 1,204 females) and 19 hoteliers.18McGowan. The Golden South. p 75 Kennedy recollects ‘the floods in April and May of 1871, led to a decline in the number of public houses. In Newtown there were five, Brissett’s, Woodward’s, Atkins’, Grimshaw’s and Thomas’, and in Redbank there were two, Costlows and the Araluen Arms.’ 19McGowan. The Golden South. p 76
An advertisement for that ‘large and most commodious Hotel, known as Mr John Kingsland’s (Araluen Arms) situated at Redbank, Araluen’, was placed in January 187220 Australian Town and Country Journal (Sydney, NSW : 1870-1919), Saturday 23 March 1872, p 29 claiming ‘This hotel contains an ample number of well-finished bedrooms, dining and sitting rooms, parlours, ball and assembly room for carrying on a large business, and certainly the finest billiard-room in the district of Braidwood. There is also detached store-room, laundry, kitchen, buggy house, sheds for conveyances, chaff and corn store; first-class stable, paved, 12 stalls; hayloft, well of soft water, with force-pump, &c. also, sale-yards adjoining.’
By 1877, the population is given as about 3,500 with a 3 mile main street, including 14 hotels, reducing in 1885 to three hotels at Redbank.21McGowan. The Golden South. p 98
1900s
Lower Araluen, possibly early 1900s showing what is believed to have been the location of the Rose and Crown Hotel at Crown Flat22Woodland. Araluen. A History through Photographs p 40
By 1920, there were only two hotels in Araluen. One in Newtown, known as Madigan’s Hotel, and the Araluen Arms in Redbank.23Lindsay and Roger Thwaites. The History of Araluen. National Capital Printing. 2001. Back Cover p 40
Coloured lines added to define roads, creeks and locations, to the maps as detailed in the initial pages of ‘The History of Araluen‘ written by Lindsay and Roger Thwaites in 2001. Back Cover p 40
Phillip Madigan held the Publican licence for the Perseverance Hotel for 35 years from 1878 until 1913. In Tales of the Goldfields published in 1938, Will Carter remembers ‘Phil Madigan (‘The Perseverance’) 24Sydney Mail (NSW : 1912-1938), Wednesday 14 December 1938, p 7 who never would allow a pack of cards to enter his house, and who graded a man’s drinks down from a tumbler to a thimbleful and then said: ‘Now you’ve had enough, get home to your wife“.’
A family member recollects of his great grand-father Phillip Madigan, that strict Catholic25 Peter Malone. The Catholic Church on a Goldfields Parish. Braidwood – Araluen 1852 – 1869. p 75 religious discipline was carried over into the management of the hotel. No drunkenness was allowed, swearing was forbidden, as was card playing and any type of gambling. Men were not served unless they were supporting their wives sufficiently and cheques could not be cashed unless their wife gave her consent. Visitors had to remain in the bar and were forbidden to go into the kitchen area. Despite these unpromising regulations the hotel prospered.
In the second half of the 20th century, one remaining hotel owner and hostess Mollie Collins, was the centre of social life.26Thwaites. The History of Araluen. p 35 Mollie learnt the hotel trade when her father took over the new hotel, which occurred when Alley’s Store 27Newsletter No 7. Braidwood and District Historical Society. December 2017 was converted to a Hotel, following the burning down of the Araluen Arms Hotel in 1927.
This hotel now known as the Araluen Hotel, continues to provide a warm welcome and hospitality today. https://www.araluenhotel.com.au
‘The pub, the peaches and Molly Collins. Down in Araluen’
As published in a Canberra Times article on 12 July 198728Jackie French. ‘The pub, the peaches and Molly Collins. Down in Araluen. Canberra Times (ACT : 1926-1995), Sunday, 12 July 1987, p 22 , Jackie French writes:
‘In 1987, Araluen means peaches (with orchards still in production today). Say you come from Araluen to any taxi driver in Canberra or Sydney or Darwin and they’ll probably say “Araluen? I haven’t been there since I don’t know when. Does such and such still have the pub?” If they’re over 50, they probably mean Mollie Collins. No-one ever forgot Mollie. People still ask for her, though she died in a traffic accident (in Queanbeyan) a couple of years ago at 82.‘
‘People drive up from campsites down river, 30 or 50 kilometres on sharp curves and thin roads to sit outside the pub for an hour or two and watch the late summer light fade from the mountains till you could be at the top of the world as easily as in a valley, except for the deep clarity of the stars above you, with a brilliance you only get in valleys; till the moon rises over the ridge and you see the valley again, grassy slopes and black casuarina thickets, the moonlight enclosed in the valley so the world is distinct again, the shadows deeper purple and the river gleaming silver instead of gold.’