One Tree, New South Wales facts for kids
Quick facts for kids One TreeNew South Wales |
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The partially rebuilt hotel, fenced off
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 One Tree
Location in New South Wales
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| Established | 1862 |
| Postcode(s) | 2711 |
| Location | |
| LGA(s) | Hay Shire |
| County | Waradgery |
| State electorate(s) | Murray |
| Federal Division(s) | Riverina |
One Tree is a small, historic spot located in the Riverina area of New South Wales, Australia. It sits on the Cobb Highway, a road that crosses a very flat plain between the towns of Hay and Booligal.
Back in 1862, a special building called Finch's Inn was built here. This place quickly became important because it was a stop for coaches and a place where people could get water for their animals. It was a vital rest stop on the long journey between the Murrumbidgee and Lachlan rivers. Even though a village was officially planned in 1882, One Tree mostly remained just this useful stop, centered around the hotel.
The One Tree Hotel you see today is actually the second building on this site. The first hotel was sadly destroyed by fire in 1903. But don't worry, it was rebuilt exactly the same way as the original, thanks to the insurance company! The hotel stopped operating in 1942. This old hotel is a really important historical building. It helps us remember what life was like when people were first settling in the Riverina area.
Why is it called One Tree?
The name 'One Tree' comes from a very special reason. There used to be a huge gum tree standing all by itself on the otherwise flat and treeless plain. This area was even called the One Tree Plain! Sadly, this famous landmark tree was blown down in a big storm on New Year's Eve, January 31, 1897.
The One Tree Hotel Building
The One Tree Hotel is built from strong, split cypress-pine logs. It has wide verandahs (porches) on three sides, which would have been great for shade. The roof is made of corrugated iron and is shaped like a hip roof. You can see twelve-paned windows between the four panel doors that open onto the verandahs. Behind the main building, there's a separate kitchen and a small wooden shed.
As mentioned, this building is a very accurate copy of the first hotel from 1862. When the first hotel burned down in 1903, the insurance company, the Australian Mutual Fire Insurance Society, made sure the new hotel was built to look exactly like the original. In May 1991, the One Tree Hotel was added to the Register of the National Estate, which means it's recognized as an important historical place.
One Tree in Literature
Sometimes, One Tree was also called "Hell." This interesting nickname was even mentioned in a famous poem by Banjo Paterson called Hay and Hell and Booligal. Some people think the name 'Hell' might actually refer to a property called Hells Gate, which is located between Hay and Balranald.
