Patrick Riley resided at 1 George Street, Newcastle in 1822 when he applied to build an Inn on the site.

Riley had arrived on the Three Bees in 1814. He was sent to Newcastle, possibly as early as 1814, where he was employed as overseer of carpenters. He made an escape attempt in the vessel Nautilus late in 1816 and was punished in January 1817, however was later again employed as overseer of the carpenters. He appeared before J.T. Bigge to give evidence on the suitability of different timbers in the Hunter Region in 1820 and was given the opportunity to clear land and grow crops. (Select here to read the evidence of Patrick Riley. In 1824 he paid 120 Spanish dollars for a licence to sell spirituous liquors and to keep an ale house in Newcastle.

The Ship Inn that was established by Riley was situated at the foot of Watt Street, Newcastle. James McClymont and his wife Nancy who arrived in 1823 became publicans at the Ship Inn. James McClymont also owned an estate on the Hunter River. Select here to find the location of his land.

When James McClymont died in 1829, John Hillier  took over as innkeeper.  Sir Edward Parry, on a visit to Newcastle to examine Australian Agricultural Company holdings, stabled his horses at John Hillier's Ship Inn in 1830; he described it as a small clean Inn situated near the wharf. There were 3 parlours; 5 bedrooms; 1 kitchen; 1 store room; 4 stall stable and a coach house.  John Hillier later moved to Morpeth where he became a store keeper.

In the 1832 Directory it is stated that James Pawsey kept the inn known as The Ship Inn.

The license for the Ship Inn was transferred to a brick building situated on land at the corner of Hunter and Bolton Streets by publican James Hannell in 1846. This was said to be a more commodious building previously occupied by the Union Inn (69)

In 1844 the Ship Inn was the venue chosen when some of the town's folk decided to hold a public meeting to decide on the proper means to express gratitude to Rev. Dr. Lang for his services to the colony and to devise measures to assist in retaining him in the Legislative Council. Those at the meeting included Martin Richardson, William Rouse, J. Way, W. Watson, James McGreavy, George Tully, Job Hudson, and James Hannell.(1)

(2) SG 16 August1836

(1) MM 13 January 1844

69 MM 12 December 1846