Free Settler or Felon
Convict and Colonial History




Governor Bourke Inn

Singleton


John Browne held the licence for the Governor Bourke Inn in the years 1833 - 1836. [1]

Thomas Cullen

Thomas Cullen took over the Inn in 1836. At this time the sittings of the Court of Petty Sessions were held in the building and religious services were conducted in a portion of the same premises.[2]

Adoniah Vallack's surgery was established opposite the Governor Bourke Inn in 1838.

Governor Gipps stayed at the Inn on his trip to the Hunter in 1844 before moving on to Jerry's Plains to stay at Richard Alcorn's Queen Victoria Inn.

In 1846 Thomas Cullen advertised the Inn for lease. It was in full trade and possession could be given immediately. Applications were to be made to the proprietor on the premises. [3]

Alexander Munro

Alexander Munro took over the Inn in 1847. He re-named it The Governor Fitzroy in honor of the Governor Sir Charles Fitzroy who visited the township and the Inn in 1847.[4]

In time the Inn became known as the Fitzroy. Alexander Munro was granted a licence again in 1848[5]

The old Fitzroy Inn had many uses. According to historian W.J. Goold it was at the Fitzroy on 25th September 1848 at the race meeting that it was decided to form the Singleton Jockey Club; and in 1850 at a meeting of the Catholics of Singleton in the long room that arrangements were made for the buildling of a church.

It was at the Fitzroy in November 1847 that William Francis King (alias The Ladies Walking Flying Pieman), put up on his arrival in Singleton. He had been performing some wonderful feats of endurance in Sydney and Maitland and was famous throughout the colony. A large crowd followed him from the Inn to the Race course on 11th November 1847.[6]
The Flying Pieman

In December 1849 Munro transferred the publican's licence from the Fitzroy Hotel to the Caledonian Hotel which was previously under the sign of the the Sir Thomas Mitchell Inn.

Samuel Caldwell

Samuel Caldwell formerly of the Albert Hotel in Aberdeen announced that he was re-opening the Fitzroy Hotel at Singleton in 1849[7]

Patrick Cullen

Patrick Cullen was granted a licence for the Fitzroy in 1866

References

[1] State Archives NSW; Series: 14401; Item: [4/64]; Reel: 5051 1833 Ancestry.com. New South Wales, Australia, Certificates for Publicans' licences

[2] Singleton Argus 1 May 1906

[3] Maitland Mercury 10 October 1846.

[4] Maitland Mercury 10 February 1847

[5] Maitland Mercury 26 April 1848

[6] Singleton Argus 26 May 1928

[7] Maitland Mercury 12 December 1849