The Albion Hotel

DESCRIPTION

NameThe Albion HotelTypeBuildingHotelDescriptionDuncan Beatson was a noted breeder of cattle of the Durham Shorthorns, Ayrshires and Devon breed. The Beatson family settled at Terry’s Meadows, where Duncan Beatson took up the position as joint manager for John Terry Hughes of Terry’s Meadows Albion Park.

Duncan Beatson built the first hotel The Albion at Albion Park in 1863, on the s/e corner of Tongarra Road and Terry Street, part of 5 acres of lot 27.

In 1865 Duncan Beatson sold his Albion Hotel to James Duffin, a Commission agent. (ref. research LTO original deeds).

The licensees of The Albion Hotel were David Aitken 1868, M. Mulholland 1873, and James Condon 1875 to 1879.

James Condon transferred his license to Gabriel Timbs 'new' Albion Park Hotel built 1879 opposite on the s/w corner of Tongarra Road and Terry Street, and The Albion Hotel ceased trading.

In 1870 The Town and Country Journal travelling reporter proceeding through Albion Park reported the town consisted of Aitken’s Hotel (The Albion). David Aitken was the licensee in 1868 to 1873.

The Albion Hotel was also a public meeting place. On 2nd February 1871 the Kiama Independent advertised a meeting at The Albion to consider erecting a public school for Albion Park, and on 18th August 1874, the Illawarra Mercury reported an article urging the government to erect the proposed new Court House and lock-up at Albion Park instead of Shellharbour.

The meeting was held in the largest room or parlour of the Albion Hotel, which was filled, ‘there being at the same time about an equal number of persons around the door on the verandah’.

Well known names of Albion Park, Moles, Fryer, Weston, Marks, McGill, Grey, Cawdell and Evans were noted, and the resolutions were put forward. This request was not granted and the Court was built in Mary Street Shellharbour.

A 1904 lithograph shows the 'old' Albion Hotel as Henry Fryer’s Auction rooms. A shop front was added some time later, occupied by Henderson’s fruit shop, and the building at the rear reverted to living quarters.

The Brewster family opened a spare parts shop and garage on the site, cnr. Tongarra and Terry Streets. In 1962 the Brewster family moved to Dapto, and the old hotel building fell into disrepair due to the deterioration of the timber stump foundations.

The building had been constructed of hardwood slabs with both joining edges grooved with cedar tongues inserted. (oral history Brewster family).

External LinkAlbion Park Hotel 1863Local News 1865Thursday January 6 1865Supreme Court Sydney 1865Property in Illawarra 1865Notice Public Meeting 1866Sales by Auction 1866Notice 1867Sales by Auction 1867Macquarie River 1870Presentation of a Testimonial to Mr Andrew McGill 1874District News 1880

Document

Remembering the Albion

Person

Beatson, Duncan

The Albion Hotel, 24 April 1934.

The shadow in the foreground is from LR Mood Coachworks in Tongarra Road. The Albion Hotel is center left, and the Albion Park Hotel is in the center. View looking west Tongarra Road, towards Macquarie Pass.

CONNECTIONS

CollectionPlacesFamilyBrewsterLocalityAlbion ParkPersonBeatson, Duncan

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The Albion Hotel