White Hart Inn Archaeological Site facts for kids

The White Hart Inn Archaeological Site is a special historical place in Beaumont Hills, Australia. It's where an old inn (like a hotel and pub combined) used to stand. This site is important because it shows us what life was like long ago. It was built starting in 1827 and is now owned by the NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment. This site was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on August 24, 2018, which means it's protected because of its historical importance.

Discovering the Past: A Look at the Inn's History

Before European settlers arrived, the Darug people lived in this area for thousands of years. They were the traditional owners of this land.

Early Settlement and Travel in New South Wales

The area around what is now Kellyville was opened for European settlement in the early 1800s. It was mostly farmland, with people growing wheat and fruit. This region was not a big town but a place people passed through.

Two main roads, Windsor Road and Old Windsor Road, were built in the early 1800s. These roads connected Sydney to Windsor and the Hawkesbury region. By the mid-1820s, regular coach services started running between Parramatta and Windsor.

Why Roadside Inns Were Important

Inns were very important along these early roads. They were like rest stops for travelers and their horses. Journeys were long and tiring back then. Inns provided food, a place to sleep, and fresh horses.

They were also community hubs. Inns served as local court houses, places for meetings, and spots where people could do business or just socialize. Most early colonial inns looked similar. They were usually one-story buildings with verandahs (porches). Sometimes, more rooms or a second floor were added later.

The Story of the White Hart Inn

The land where the White Hart Inn stood was first given to John Moss in 1810. Later, it was owned by Hugh Kelly, who the area of Kellyville is likely named after. In 1823, William Cox became the owner. He was an important judge and built the first road over the Blue Mountains.

Building the Inn and Its First Years

William Cox ordered an inn to be built on the site. A skilled carpenter named James Gough finished building it in 1827. Gough had been a convict but was later pardoned by Governor Macquarie. He worked closely with Cox on many building projects.

The inn was named the White Hart Inn. James Gough was its first manager, called a publican. Later, William Cross took over in 1830. Many different publicans ran the inn over the years, including a woman named Sarah Tighe in 1832–33. Her husband ran another inn nearby.

The White Hart Inn quickly became well-known. An early newspaper described it as "fine and noble looking" with nice furniture. By 1829, it had been made "larger and fitted up" with more bedrooms. A survey map from 1833 also showed it as a public house.

Changes and the End of an Era

After William Cox died in 1837, the inn was put up for sale. An advertisement described it as a "well-established Inn" with "extensive buildings" and a good garden. It also had 110 acres of land.

John Allen, a former convict who had gained his freedom, bought the property in 1838. He also managed the inn for a while. By this time, many inns were along Windsor Road, and competition was high.

In the 1860s, trains started running to Windsor. This meant fewer people traveled by coach, and many roadside inns closed down. They were either torn down or turned into homes. The White Hart Inn was put up for auction in 1881. It was described as a "very commodious two storey brick building."

The Bryan family bought the property. The inn was still there in the mid-1880s, shown on a map as a brick building with verandahs. It was even used as a voting place in 1885. However, it was called "Bryan's late the White Hart Inn," suggesting it was no longer an inn. The last license for the inn was in 1874. It seems the building was torn down between the late 1880s and 1890s.

The land around the inn was later divided and sold for farms. The remains of the inn, like its foundations, were found again in the 1930s. The land changed owners several times and is now owned by the NSW Government.

Exploring the Archaeological Site

In late 2013, archaeologists started digging at the site. This was part of the Sydney Metro Northwest project. They wanted to see if any parts of the old inn were still there and how well preserved they were.

What Archaeologists Found

The digging revealed exciting discoveries. They found parts of the main inn building's foundations, a separate kitchen building, and a cistern (an underground tank for water). The items found were typical of what you'd expect in an old inn. They included things for preparing and serving food and drinks.

Other items found were coins (the oldest from 1816), old medicine and perfume bottles, clay smoking pipes, and buttons. The separate building had many bones and dishes, confirming it was the kitchen.

Initially, the site was thought to be another inn called the Swan Inn. But more research showed it was definitely the White Hart Inn. After the digging, the public was invited to see the site. Then, it was carefully covered up again to protect it for the future. The items found are being stored safely.

What the Site Looks Like Today

The White Hart Inn archaeological site contains parts of the main inn building, the separate kitchen, and the cistern. These remains are still in good condition. They show us how the inn was originally laid out. It seems the inn was built in a common style for inns in New South Wales.

How the Inn Was Built and Changed

The main inn building had a long verandah facing the road. It had rooms for sleeping at each end and a large dining or bar room in the middle.

The archaeological findings show that the inn was built in two main stages.

• The first part, built around c. 1827, had large sandstone block foundations. These would have supported a two-story building.
• Around c. 1829, the inn was made bigger to add more rooms. This can be seen by the added brick foundations. The separate kitchen was likely built at this time too, connected to the main inn by a brick path. There might have been other buildings, like a stable, behind the inn.

Today, none of the site is visible above ground. It was covered with a special fabric and soil to protect the historical remains. This allows for future study or display.

Why the White Hart Inn Site Is Important

The White Hart Inn Archaeological Site is very important to the history of New South Wales. It's one of the few remaining examples of a roadside inn from the early 1800s. It helps us understand how Windsor Road developed, which was one of the oldest roads in NSW. This road connected Sydney, Parramatta, and Windsor.

Learning from the Past

Inns like the White Hart Inn were essential rest stops for travelers. They also served as local courts, business places, and social spots. The remains of the White Hart Inn can teach us a lot about how these early inns were designed, built, and managed.

The site was listed on the New South Wales State Heritage Register because it meets several important criteria:

• It shows how history unfolded in New South Wales.

* The site has remains from an early colonial inn built by James Gough, a former convict, for William Cox around c. 1827. This shows the roles of important figures in early NSW. * It's linked to the development of Windsor Road, a vital early road for European settlement. * The inn was a popular landmark and rest stop. * It also shows how transportation changed when railways arrived, leading to the decline of inns.

• It can teach us more about New South Wales' history.

* Only part of the site has been dug up, so there's potential for more discoveries. * The foundations of the inn and kitchen are still there. * Archaeologists believe more things might be found in deeper areas, like a cellar or cistern. * Studying the site can give us valuable information about how early inns worked. * The items found, like bottles and coins, can help us understand what people bought and used back then.

• It's a rare and special part of New South Wales' history.

* Most colonial inn sites in NSW haven't been studied much. * Many inns were torn down after railways became popular. * While some old inn buildings still exist, they've often been changed. * The White Hart Inn site remained undeveloped after it was demolished. This makes it a rare and mostly untouched example of an early 19th-century inn.

• It shows the main features of colonial inns in New South Wales.

* Colonial inns often shared a similar design. * The remaining foundations show the typical construction and layout of inns built in NSW during the early 1800s. * This site can be compared to other inn sites to learn more about this type of building.