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Hunter Valley Inns & Hotels

Traveller's Home Inn (Traveller's Rest)

Murrurundi

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'The Traveller's Home Inn premises were owned by J.A. Atkinson

The License for the Traveller's Rest was held by Ralph George Martin in 1837. By 1839 he had moved to the Aberdeen Hotel

In 1840 Richard South held the licence for the Traveller's Home at Murrurundi. Richard South arrived on the City of Edinburgh in in May 1837. He had a narrow escape from bushrangers in 1840. While travelling alone near Singleton, he was taken prisoner and held at gunpoint by bushrangers later to be known as the 'Jewboy Gang'. They robbed him of his horse, saddle and bridle. He managed to make his escape on this occasion however, the gang did not forget and three weeks later when they rode into Pages River, one of them - John Marshall - threatened to deal with Richard South before they left the Traveller's Home Inn. (Australasian Chronicle)

The Inn was advertised to be let in 1843: (30)

'The old established and well known Inn called the Traveller's Home' on the great Northern Road to Liverpool Plains and New England, and situated at Pages River, Murrurundi. The Inn is a commodious building containing four sitting rooms eight bed rooms pantries and servant's bed rooms; as also attached Bar and Tap, neatly fitted up with bed rooms for travellers and every other suitable convenience. The detached buildings consist of excellent stables, hay lofts and granaries, coach house, large store, kitchen and servants' apartment above, court yard pailed in, with  a never failing well of good water in the centre, piggeries, calf pens, cooperage, and every accommodation for a public establishment; and which has been carried on as a profitable and money making business for a period of six years.'

Attached to the Inn was a good garden, stocked with choice fruit trees and vegetables, two paddocks and also a stockyard, which was being used as a public pound near the inn (31)

David Teys was advertising the Travellers Home Inn in September 1848  (32)    In June 1852 he announced that he was moving from his usual abode to premises in the centre of Murrurundi opposite the Court House where he intended to carry on business as usual under the original sign (late 'Phoenix"). He offered well selected spirits etc as well as stables and moderate accommodation charges and included the following verse in his ad:

It's true that long looked for reform is past,

For that ancient old sign is shifted at last;

So if ever you travel the Great Northern Road

Call at this inn and take your abode;

You can't make a mistake, its so very well known,

For the welcome old sign is the Traveller's Home'

In September 1852 William J. Innes announced that he had 'fitted up and re opened at considerable expense the old established house at Murrurundi previously known as the Travellers Home.' It was to be known under the sign of the Maryville Inn.

The Inn was well placed to capture the trade of the diggers en route to the Hanging Rock Gold Diggings

(29)SH 13 September 1841

(30)MM 25 November 1843

(31)MM 2 December 1843

 

 

 

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