On the 1st of January 1848, Edward Richardson opened premises formerly occupied by Thomas Kerr. They were to be known as the Tradesman's Arms. The Inn had undergone a thorough repair and Mr. Richardson thought they were quite equal to a new house and capable of affording the traveller most comfortable accommodation.

There were closed and open stabling and the best of liquors and victuals were to be supplied as well as first rate bedding for the comfort of travellers. He promised to always keep on hand a stock of good fresh beer at the low charge of sixpence per quart or one shilling and sixpence per gallon.31

'The undersigned gives notice, that in consequence of the vanity (or perhaps the ignorance ) of some one of the old established hands in Muswellbrook, being propped up with the idea that no person has any right to earn a living in the public line of business but just himself he takes this opportunity of laying before the public a list of prices for the year 1849

He was granted a publican's license for the Muswellbrook Inn in 1854