Licensee
1857-1859 – James Patrick Sweeney Mahoney (commonly called Sweeney)1Museum of History New South Wales. https://mhnsw.au/indexes/publicans-hoteliers-innkeepers/publicans-licenses-index. Accessed 14 February 2023.
Location
In 1857 a new rush occurred at Mudmelong ‘then Sweeneys Flat and James Patrick Sweeney Mahoney (commonly called Sweeney) opened [Cornstalks] hotel, store and butchers shop.’2Richard Kennedy. Braidwood Goldfields. 1850’s – 1860’s. Compiled by Roslyn Maddrell. 4th Reprint. Bayprint, Batemans Bay, NSW. 2010, p 22
In the News
In July 1858, the Northern Times3Northern Times (Newcastle, NSW : 1857-1918), Saturday 17 July 1858, p 4 reported that Mr Sweeney ‘opened his public house at the lower diggings, which caused a number of our mining population to leave their usual routine of work and pay their respects to a man so deservedly popular. The best of entertainment was provided, and all passed off with unusual éclat. This locality is taking precedence of the higher part of the valley, with the exception of Deep Creek, where most parties are making fair wages, and if the population increases in the same ratio as it has done within the last few weeks, bids fair to increase in the yield of gold.’
The Sydney Morning Herald 4Sydney Morning Herald (NSW: 1842 – 1954), Saturday 13 November 1858, page 5 reporting in November 1858 describes ‘After an absence of but a few months, the romantic and famed valley of Araluen seemed almost deserted, until my arrival at the Lower Diggings where old familiar faces wearing the smile of welcome met me at every turn, and the magnitude as well as systematic manner of carrying on the different works excited my admiration, and cannot fail to attract and interest the most indifferent observer. Some parties are reaping a rich harvest, while others after months of unremitting toil and expense have not yet reached the wished-for goal. Doubtless this has been and ever will be the case. All are not born alike lucky. Taking all in all, this is likely to be one of the most prosperous gold-fields in the colony. Stores and public houses are springing up as if by enchantment, and to judge of the crowds who resort to worthy Host Sweeney’s Go-a-head Inn [Cornstalks Inn ] to deposit their superabundant cash, the yellow dross is not the scarce commodity with these favoured individuals it has ever proved to your humble correspondent.‘
In January 1859, a report in the Bell’s Life in Sydney5Bell’s Life in Sydney and Sporting Reviewer (NSW : 1845-1860), Saturday 1 January 1859, p 6 titled Christmas Sports in Araluen, details ‘a row near the tents, before the commencement of the second horse race, between a group from the Upper, and a few on the Lower Araluen diggings‘. Mr Sweeney, of the Cornstalk Inn, has recently been accosted in his father in-Iaw’s house [Peace and Plenty] at Upper Araluen, and was obliged to keep within doors, and on another occasion, a fight ensued. ‘Many expected that a storm was brewing, and that it would burst on the race-course. Rum, we fancy, had largely to do with the riot, in fact, more than any other cause. A number of men, furious with rage and liquor, engaged in a most disgraceful melee.’ After a concerted Police effort, peace was finally restored and the races recommenced.
A meeting of the Committee for the erection of the Catholic chapel and school at the Lower Araluen, was held in June 1859, at Mr J. P. Sweeny’s, the Cornstalk Inn6Empire (Sydney, NSW : 1850-1875), Tuesday 21 June 1859, p 8, which agreed that the building be erected, with the consent of Crown Lands, at the corner of the police paddock nearest the crossing place below Sweeny’s.
On 27 June 1859, the Empire7Empire (Sydney, NSW : 1850-1875), Saturday 2 July 1859, p 8 reported ‘a very large concourse of diggers met at The Cornstalks, Araluen to present Mr James Patrick Sweeney with a testimonial of respect and esteem, as he had “emphatically been the diggers friend”.’
A petition by Henry Augustus Cobb, of Braidwood, storekeeper, that the Estate of James Patrick Sweeney Mahoney, commonly called James Patrick Sweeney,8New South Wales Government Gazette (Sydney, NSW : 1832-1900), Tuesday 18 October 1859 (No.212), p 2292 late of the Cornstalk Inn, Lower Araluen, licensed victualler, be sequestrated for the benefit of his Creditors, was upheld in the Supreme Court of NSW in October 1859.
In October 1859, the Empire9Empire (Sydney, NSW : 1850-1875), Saturday 29 October 1859, p 4 reported ‘a sudden death occurring at Araluen of a Mr. Robert Healey, a person between thirty and forty years of age. He was employed by the official assignees in the insolvent estate of Mr. James Patrick Sweeney, to go and take charge of the Cornstalk Inn, at Lower Araluen. He had been staying for some time at the Doncaster Inn, for the benefit of his health, which had been rather ailing. Healey retired to his bed at the usual hour, apparently in good health, however he was discovered dead upon the floor, the next morning.’
The livestock sales in December 1859 held at the Cornstalk Inn Araluen,10Examiner (Kiama, NSW : 1859-1862), Saturday 17 December 1859, p 1 where 19 (nineteen) head of cows and calves, 5 (five) working bullocks, and 5 (five) horses, were sold for varying sums.
In reporting on the Gulf diggings (near Bodalla) in April 1861, and the exodus from Araluen, the Braidwood Observer11Braidwood Observer and Miner’s Advocate (NSW: 1859 – 1862), Wednesday 17 April 1861, page 2 stated ‘ Mr. J. P. Sweeney, who is well known and respected on the Araluen as having first opened the Lower Araluen, and afterwards, by his generous support during successive and severe visitations by floods, prevented the abandonment of that portion of the Araluen goldfields, has erected a public-house under the name of the “Cornstalks Inn” where he seems to receive that portion of public support to which he is justly entitled, by his long advocacy and support of every undertaking calculated to advantage the mining population.’