Royal Oak Arms Hotel facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Royal Oak Arms Hotel |
|
|---|---|
_(5045154b1).jpg) |
|
| Location | 18 King Street, Paterson, Dungog Shire, New South Wales, Australia |
| Official name: Royal Oak Arms Hotel (former); Royal Oak Arms Hotel | |
| Type | state heritage (built) |
| Designated | 2 April 1999 |
| Reference no. | 141 |
| Type | Hotel |
| Category | Commercial |
| Lua error in Module:Location_map at line 420: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value). | |
The Royal Oak Arms Hotel is a special old building in Paterson, Australia. It used to be a pub, a shop, and even a bank! This building is very important because of its history, so it's listed on the New South Wales State Heritage Register. It was also known as the Royal Oak Inn.
Contents
A Look Back at the Royal Oak Arms Hotel
The Royal Oak Inn was built a long time ago, in the 1840s. It was first a home for Dr. Issac Scott Nind. He was a doctor who looked after the workers in the area.
In 1853, a man named William Morris Read bought the building. He used it as a store that sold wine and spirits. He moved back to England in 1858.
From Store to Inn
Edward William Long bought the building in 1858. He also used it as a store. In 1861, he got a special permit to sell alcohol. This meant he could open an inn, which he called the 'Royal Oak'. Edward Long passed away in 1864.
After him, different people managed the inn:
- Daniel Long (1865-1866)
- Ellen Long (1867)
- Daniel Long again (1868)
- Elephannan Puxty (1869-1877)
- George Seabrooke (1877-1879)
- Thomas Swift (1879-1881)
The inn stopped selling alcohol in 1881. All its items were sold in 1882 because Thomas Swift was leaving the area.
A Bank and a Shop
From 1882 to 1902, the building became a bank. It was used by the Commercial Banking Company of Sydney. In 1902, the bank moved to a new building across the street.
After the bank left, Mr and Mrs Williamson rented the building. From 1902 to 1915, they ran a small shop. It sold many different things and even had a barber and a billiard room.
A Family Home and Butcher Shop
William John McGill bought the building in 1915. His family lived in the old hotel. The kitchen buildings outside were used as a butcher shop. William McGill's brother-in-law, a builder, changed the front of the building. He removed the old porch and built the two-story porch you see today.
William McGill passed away in 1930. He left the property to his daughters. Later, Walter McGill bought out his siblings' shares. The building became his family home. The butcher shop in the outbuildings continued to operate.
Protecting a Historic Building
In 1968, Mr. McGill divided the land. The Royal Oak Arms Hotel building was separated from its old outbuildings. Since then, the building has had many owners. It was empty for most of this time.
People in Paterson became worried about the building in 1979. They asked the Heritage Council to help protect it. The National Trust also supported this idea. On March 6, 1981, a special order was put in place to protect the Royal Oak Inn forever.
In 1987, money was given to help fix up the Royal Oak Inn. In 1994, more work was approved to restore the front porch. On April 2, 1999, the Royal Oak Inn was officially added to the State Heritage Register. This means it is a very important historical site in New South Wales.
What the Royal Oak Arms Hotel Looks Like
The Royal Oak Arms Inn is in what used to be a busy part of Paterson. It is a two-story building made of brick. It was built in an old style called Colonial Georgian.
Changes Over Time
The building originally had a single-story porch at the front. In the late 1900s, this was replaced with the two-story porch you see now. A new doorway was made on the second floor to reach this porch.
The original roof was made of timber shingles. These were later covered with sheets of corrugated iron. The new porch also has a corrugated iron roof with a curved edge.
The windows were changed before the 1900s. They used to have twelve small glass panes but were replaced with four larger panes. These windows also had shutters. Some of the original elegant French doors are still on the ground floor at the back. However, their shutters are gone.
The changes made in the early 1900s changed the building a little. But they did not make it look bad in the street.
Why the Royal Oak Arms Hotel is Important
The Royal Oak Arms Inn is important for many reasons. It has been a part of Paterson for over 135 years. The building's use changed as the town grew. It started as a home for a doctor, then became an inn, a bank, a shop, and a family home. This shows how the town of Paterson developed over time.
Architectural Style
The Royal Oak Arms Inn is a great example of early Georgian architecture in Paterson. It is in a key spot in the town. It stands with other important buildings like the hotel, Court House, Post Office, and Church. It also looks great when you look down Duke Street.
A Town Landmark
The Royal Oak Arms Inn is also important to the people of Paterson. It is a landmark that helps define the town's image. This image is linked to Paterson's early days and its growth. Even with the changes made in the early 1900s, the building still looks good and fits into the street.
The Royal Oak Arms Hotel was listed on the New South Wales State Heritage Register on April 2, 1999, because it met certain important standards.
Historical Significance
The Royal Oak Arms Inn is historically important because it has stood in the center of Paterson for over 135 years. Its purpose changed to fit what the town needed. The building's story is strongly connected to how Paterson was first settled and how it grew. It began as a home for a doctor, then became an inn, a hotel, a bank, a small shop, and a residence as the town developed.
Community Landmark
The Royal Oak Arms Inn is also important to the community. It is a landmark for the people and town of Paterson. It helps create the image of Paterson, an image that connects to its original settlement and the growth that followed.
