Henry Hewitt arrived free on the Andromeda in 1823. His first Inn was the Angel Inn. He moved from the 'Angel Inn to his newly built Albion Inn in September 1831. He remained publican for three years before announcing his departure. The Inn was possibly built on land purchased by Hewitt near his 1/2 grant. Convicts assigned to Henry Hewitt in Maitland at this time included Mary Darney, William Mason, Henry Parker and Mary Ann Murphy.

Benjamin Cox then moved to the Albion after leaving the Rose Inn in January 1834.  'The Albion', a well built structure of brick with a spacious attic and was situated on the main thoroughfare through town (High Street). It was 70' long with extensive sitting rooms, seven bedrooms a bar, tap and cellar. Outside there was a blacksmiths shop, a nine stall stable, coach house and a granary. There was a spring with excellent water and a brewery was also attached  The premises were purchased by John Eales in 1834

Wickes Norton took over the lease and running of the Inn in 1837. Wickes Norton later entered into an agreement with Mr. Grove of Newcastle to take over the running of the Commercial Inn in Newcastle .

Richard Cornelius took out the licence for the Albion in 1840. Cornelius had been manager of the store hulk St. Michael at Green Hills (Morpeth) where supplies for constables, soldiers and others requiring government supplies were held. He appointed a manager to oversee the store ship however this was not a success as in 1841 the Hunter River Gazette recorded that The St. Michael had been allowed by some mismanagement to capsize and would become useless if she could not be righted. Cornelius advertised her for sale late in 1841 while proprietor of the Albion'. 

Richard Cornelius decided to dispose of the licence of the Albion and enter business as an auctioneer in 1842. He leased, with James Wolfe, stockyards previously occupied by the Hunter River Auction Company nearby the Albion. The lease of the Albion passed to Henry Reeves in 1842. Richard Cornelius died aged 33 in October 1842 and was buried in Glebe cemetery.

On taking over the Albion in 1842, Henry Reeves advertised a large stock of 'choice wines, with spirits always on hand'. He had commenced a 'splendid stable' to have every convenience; good hay, corn etc.

In 1844 he raffled a billiard table at the Albion; cues and all complete, executed by the celebrated Thurston and which originally cost £200 would be raffled at the Albion Inn when the lists were filled up with the names of forty persons at £2 each. The putter-up and the winner were to hand over to 'mine host of the Albion' £2/10/- each to defray the expense of a supper to be given on the occasion.