Blanch's Royal Oak Inn facts for kids

Blanch's Royal Oak Inn was once a famous inn located on the New England Highway in Kentucky, Australia. Today, it is a special heritage-listed site. It is part of a group of historic places known as The Captain Thunderbolt Sites. These sites are important because they are linked to the famous Australian bushranger, Captain Thunderbolt. Other sites include Captain Thunderbolt's Rock and his grave. All these places were added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register in 2012.

The Story of Blanch's Inn

John Blanch owned several properties near the town of Uralla. A map from 1865 shows he owned land where the inn was located. We don't know exactly when Blanch's Inn opened. But it was definitely open by 1870. This was the year it became famous for Captain Thunderbolt's very last robbery.

Thunderbolt's Last Robbery

On the afternoon of May 25, 1870, Captain Thunderbolt rode to Blanch's Inn. He had been in the area for the Uralla horse races the day before. When he arrived, John Blanch's son told him his parents were not home yet. They were still at the races.

Thunderbolt rode about 300 meters to a place called Split Rock. He waited there for the Blanch family to return. When they arrived, he stopped them and robbed them. Then, he made them go back to the inn with him.

Later that afternoon, an Italian hawker named Giovanni Cappisotti arrived. A hawker was someone who traveled around selling goods. Thunderbolt robbed Giovanni too. He took a jewel box, money, earrings, rings, and a watch. These items later helped police identify Thunderbolt.

The Alarm is Raised

Other travelers and customers arrived at the inn. Thunderbolt robbed them too. He then "invited" everyone to stay for a party. At some point, Giovanni Cappisotti asked if he could leave. Thunderbolt said yes, but only if Giovanni rode south, away from Uralla and the police.

Giovanni agreed and rode south to Dorrington's Farm House. There, he borrowed a saddle and a horse. Instead of continuing south, he circled back to Uralla. He reached the police station at 4 PM and told them what had happened. This led to the chase that ended Captain Thunderbolt's life.

The official investigation into Thunderbolt's death was held at Blanch's Inn. His body was brought there for the inquiry.

What Remains Today

Not much of Blanch's Royal Oak Inn is left today. You can still see a flagstone, which was part of a doorway. The remains of the cellar are also visible. Other old parts of the land might still hold clues about how the inn was used long ago.

Some old rose bushes are growing near the site. They might have been planted when the inn was still open. Experts believe that there could be many interesting old items buried underground. This means the site is very important for learning about the past.

Why This Site is Important

The site of Blanch's Royal Oak Inn is very important to New South Wales history. It tells us a lot about Captain Thunderbolt and his final days. The story shows how he would often hold people hostage while he robbed them. He even sometimes partied with his hostages! This was a common thing he did throughout his career as a bushranger.

The events of May 25, 1870, also show two different views people had of bushrangers back then. Some people, like the publican's wife, might have secretly supported bushrangers. It was even reported that she tried to warn Thunderbolt that the police were coming. But others, like Giovanni Cappisotti, wanted bushrangers caught. Giovanni helped the police, and a young drover named Coghlan helped chase Thunderbolt away from the main road.

Even though the inn is no longer standing, its site helps us understand the types of places bushrangers targeted in the 1800s. It shows how important inns were for travel and communication.

Heritage Significance

The site of Blanch's Royal Oak Inn is listed on the New South Wales State Heritage Register because:

• It helps us understand the history of New South Wales. It shows the kind of places bushrangers like Captain Thunderbolt targeted. It was also the site of his very last robbery.
• It has a strong link to Captain Thunderbolt, a very important person in New South Wales history. His last robbery at the inn directly led to his death.
• It has the potential to teach us more about how an inn worked in the 1800s. Even though the old remains might not be super rare, they can still give us valuable information.
• It shows the typical ways Captain Thunderbolt behaved. He often held parties with his hostages, which happened at other places like Quirindi and Carroll.