Licensees
- 1854-1860 – Thomas Taylor with his license number(s) given as follows:
- 1854 – License Number 115, with sureties from Andrew Badgery of Braidwood, and Thomas John Roberts of Jembaicumbene
- 1855 – 1034 NRS 14403 [7/1503]; Reel 1237 in 1855
- 1856 – 6 NRS 14403 [7/1507]; Reel 1239, in 1856. Sureties from John Mullins Araluen, and James Horn of Majors Creek. The name of the proprietor is listed as Henry C. Burnell
- 1857 – 32 NRS 14403 [7/1508]; Reel 1239 in 1857
- 1858 – 329 NRS 14403 [7/1509]; Reel 1240, in 1858
- 1860 – 527 NRS 14403 [7/1513]; Reel 1242 in 1860. Sureties from John H. Mullins Araluen, and Thomas John Roberts of Exeter Farm
- December 1860 – William Burke, with a name change to the Horse and Jockey.
- 1863 – 1867 – Patsy Bollard
- 1867-1876 – James Grimshaw
Locations
Richard Kennedy1Braidwood Dispatch and Mining Journal (NSW : 1888-1954), Friday 1 June 1923, p 2 writes ‘Tom Taylor early on opened a pub more towards Majors Creek, Upper Araluen.’
In 1863, The Happy Valley Inn was noted, in the Araluen Star, as located in Newtown.2Araluen Star and Miners Right (1863-1964), Saturday 24 October 1863, p 2
In the News
On 24 May 1854, the Empire reported an incident, describing ‘Larceny. – charged with stealing, at Araluen’3Empire (Sydney, NSW : 1850-1875), Wednesday 28 June 1854, p 6 ‘one box and thirty shillings, the goods and monies of Thomas Taylor. This was a case in which the larceny consisted in simply moving the property with intent to steal it. Taylor is an innkeeper, and carries on business at Araluen. Upon hearing a noise in the night, like the rattling of silver, Taylor immediately went to a large cedar box in his bedroom, in which he kept his cash-box; he found that his cash-box lid been moved but all the money was right. On going to bed Taylor had put the key of the cedar box in his trousers’ pocket, but when he got up in the night, found it under his bed.’
In 1854, an inquest was held before Alex McAlister, Coroner for the district, for a deceased person, taken to Taylor’s Inn, Araluen4Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842-1954), Tuesday 25 July 1854, p 2. It appeared that the deceased, while at dinner suddenly got up, went to the back of the hut, and in a few minutes expired. His death was caused by a piece of meat having stuck.
In a letter published in the Sydney Morning Herald in March 18555Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842-1954), Saturday 24 March 1855, p 5 Henry Clay Burnell wrote to contradict remarks made by an anonymous correspondent at Braidwood – ‘I beg to deny. The assertion, in proof of which denial there has been since January last a circular, not only offering to the public the disengaged land, consisting of diggings of 1¾ mile long by ¼ mile or more broad, but likewise giving permission to anyone to prospect with a pan or dish, but if with a cradle, of course I expect to be paid the license fee. This notice upon certain liberal regulations, is now lying at Mr. Taylor’s Inn, Araluen. If parties are desirous of availing themselves of my gold field, the candid way would be to see first the said notice and if further explanation is necessary, to address the proprietor by letter, instead of anonymous and untrue strictures in a public journal. Mr. Massie, Gold Commissioner, has kindly offered to issue licenses, or give any information on the subject, at least for the present, or until a private Commissioner is appointed. I am, Sir, your obedient servant. HC Burnell. 27 Hunter St, March 23rd 1855.’
In July 1856, the Sydney Morning Herald reported6Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842-1954), Saturday 5 July 1856, p 3 ‘Mr. Taylor publican, opens a new house to-day; and, in respect of the building itself, it may be observed that it is a decided ornament to the place, being substantially and tastefully built, and of a size betokening ample accommodation and comfort within.’
In January 1859, a public meeting was held at Taylor’s Happy Valley Inn, Araluen,7Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842-1954), Friday 7 January 1859, p 2 for the purpose of taking steps towards the making of a road from Braidwood to the Araluen Valley. A petition to the Minister of Lands and Public Works is being signed, embodying the resolution passed at the meeting.
The death of the child Abigail Taylor8Empire (Sydney, NSW : 1850-1875), Saturday 3 December 1859, p 4 was reported in the Empire in December 1859, ‘At the residence of her parents, Happy Valley Inn, Upper Araluen, on Sunday the 27th of November 1859, Abigail, the beloved and eldest daughter of Thomas and Bridget Taylor, after a lingering illness, died aged 9 years and 3 months.’
William Burke advertised in the Braidwood Observer 9Braidwood Observer and Miner’s Advocate (NSW : 1859 – 1862), Saturday 29 Dec 1860, page 3 detailing the transfer of the license for the Happy Valley Inn, to himself, and notifying that the Public House will now be known as the Horse and Jockey. In July 1862 William Burke placed an advertisement in the Braidwood Observer 10Braidwood Observer and Miner’s Advocate (NSW: 1859 – 1862), Saturday 12 Jul 1862, page 3 to inform diggers and residents that the Horse and Jockey had relocated to new premises erected on Crown land, [at Burketown]. The Upper Araluen Post office was also removed to these new premises.
A Public meeting was advertised in the Araluen Star,11Araluen Star and Miners Right (1863-1964), Saturday 24 October 1863, p 2 to be held on the 28 October 1863 at the Happy Valley Inn, Newtown, for a testimonial fund following the resignation of F.A. Cooper, Gold Commissioner.
The Freeman’s Journal in March 1863 noted that 12Freeman’s Journal (Sydney, NSW : 1850 – 1932), Saturday 7 March 1863, page 2 ‘The Old Happy Valley Inn has changed hands and is under the presidency of Patsy Bollard who, from his well-known popularity amongst the diggers, is sure to do well.’
The Araluen Star reports 13Araluen Star and Miners’ Right (NSW : 1863 – 1864), Saturday 17 October 1863, page 2 in October 1863, ‘a man named Teesedale, met with a severe accident at Araluen. It appears that while he was conveying a load of pumpkins from Upper to Lower Araluen, and when near Mr, Bollard s public-house, the horse bolted, and was ultimately stopped by coming in contact with some falling timber, whereby Teesedale had the misfortune to break his thigh.‘
In what became known as the Araluen Race Case in 1863, the Echuca and Moama Chronicle 14Pastoral Times and Echuca and Moama Chronicle (Deniliquin, NSW : 1863 – 1866), Saturday 28 November 1863, page 3 summarised that ‘An action was brought .. by Miss Dickson nominally against John Hogan and others, as stewards of the Araluen races, to recover the sum of £30, the amount of the Consolation Stakes, won by her horse Kildare, on the third day of the meeting, but Mr. F. A. Cooper, lately Gold Commissioner at Araluen, and Dr. Wilson’s opponent at the last election, was regarded as virtually the defendant. … To Judge Callaghan plaintiff said that after her arrival at Araluen, Cooper came to Bollard’s house.’
November 1863, the NSW Government Gazette noted the Insolvent Estate of Thomas Taylor15New South Wales Government Gazette (Sydney, NSW : 1832-1900), Friday 31 July 1863 (No.148), p 1689 of Araluen in the Colony of New South Wales, innkeeper.
The 1875–76 Greville’s Official Post Office Directory listed J. Grimshaw, Inkeeper16Greville’s Official Post Office directory for 1875–1876 https://www.ihr.com.au/secure/html/greville75.html. Accessed 18 February 2023, p 18 in Araluen. James Grimshaw ([licensee 1867-1876] [1849-1884]) aged 34, is buried at Araluen Roman Catholic Cemetery.17FindaGrave.com. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/175879852/james-grimshaw. Accessed 27 February 2023
On 5 January 1895, the Evening News 18Evening News (Sydney, NSW : 1869-1931), Saturday 5 January 1895, p 3reported that ‘Mr. H. Burns had a very narrow escape on Saturday morning. He is employed by Mr. E. Smith, butcher, of Araluen, and was engaged in carrying out meat on horseback, and when near Grimshaw’s old public house, the horse he was riding stumbled and fell on top of Burns. Mr. Alley drove Burns to Braidwood, and on arrival he was seen by Dr. Llewellyn.’