John Smith's Inn
Newcastle
Opened in 1823 by Gentleman John Smith, The Newcastle Hotel may have been Newcastle's first licenced premises.
Gentleman John Smith
John Smith's correspondence dated January 1823 reveals his early contribution to Newcastle.....The Memorial of John Smith, humbly shewing that...Memorialist filled the station of Chief Constable of Newcastle with vigilance and credibility to the Settlement of Newcastle for the last six years; and has recently resigned the Office from its materially interfering with his domestic duties.
That Memorialist obtained permission from the present Commandant of the settlement to build on a spot appointed for the purpose; that memorialist at a considerable expense and a good dwelling house in the line of *George Street as marked out by the Surveyor General consisting of eight rooms with other appurtenances; and has procured a regular registry of the same in the Government Office.
That Memorialist having a numerous and ever increasing family to provide for most humbly entreats His Excellency will be pleased to grant him a town lease; as this circumstance is in a great measure very intimately blended with Memorialists future interest in Life. [3]
*George Street was later re-named Watt Street.
Public House at Newcastle
The above mentioned dwelling house in George (Watt) Street Newcastle became a public house known as the Newcastle Hotel and also later known as the Crown Inn.The Store and Public House can be seen on John Armstrong's 1830 map of Newcastle.
Opening of the Inn - 1823
Gentleman John Smith advertised the opening in the Sydney Gazette on 28th August 1823.........
The Crown Inn - 1828
In January 1828 a correspondent to the Monitor visited Newcastle and gave the following account of John Smith.At that time according to the journalist John Smith's establishment was known as the Crown Inn.......
I was lying in bed this morning listening to the noise of the surf, and thinking that Christmas was as far distant as ever again, when my friend - who sleeps in an adjoining chamber, knocked at my door to tell me, that The Liverpool had just come in. You would hardly imagine what a stir is created amongst us, when the flag, which denotes the approach of this particular vessel is hoisted. I equipped myself hastily en dishabille and sallied forth to hear the news.
The passengers were just landing; a trio of J.Ps and some four or five of the Sydney Dons were making the best of their way to Gentleman Smith's (for so the Crown Inn is familiarly designated, from the peculiar neatness of attire, which distinguishes this Newcastle Boniface, under the most unfavourable circumstances, even in former times when famine and misery had attained their climax).
But the newspapers were the centre of attraction. One was running up the hill to 'Frank Batties' for the Monitor, and another down the town to Fred Boucher for the Australian. (The Gazette does not find its way down, in any thing like the numbers that the other Journals do) - The Monitor 3 January 1828.
Notes and Links
1). More about John Smith and Convicts assigned to him at Newcastle and Maitland2). Publicans at Newcastle 1828
3). Colonial Secretary's Correspondence. Memorials to the Governor
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