Commercial Hotel

DESCRIPTION

NameCommercial HotelTypeBuildingHotelGeolocation^[1] Last edited by: Will Chittick

DescriptionJames Condon was born in 1841 to James Snr and Mary nee: Murphy.

James was the owner of the Steam Packet Inn at Shellharbour in 1868, and licensee of The Albion and Albion Park Hotel, both at Albion Park.

James built the Commercial Hotel in 1885, n/w corner of Tongarra Road and Terry Street opposite Gabriel’s Albion Park Hotel.

James brother Daniel managed the Commercial for a short time until James moved over as licensee from Martin’s Albion Park Hotel opposite.

About 1895, James Condon sold the Commercial Hotel to William Raftery. Previously William Raftery had operated mail and passenger coaches from Albion Park to Robertson in the Highlands, Nowra and Wollongong.

Many official functions were held at the Commercial Hotel, including the celebration of the opening of Macquarie Pass in 1898. Mrs. Raftery prepared the meal for the large gathering.

After William Raftery’s death in 1913, his widow Mary Ann, continued on the hotel. Later her son John A. Raftery took over the license with the help of his sister Blanche who lived at the hotel.

John Raftery married Mary Bateman, daughter of Dr. and Louise Bateman of ‘Ravensthorpe’ Tongarra Road Albion Park.

John and Mary Raftery’s five children were born at the Commercial Hotel.

Around 1921 Jack and Mary Raftery purchased ‘Ravensthorpe’ where they raised their family.

In 1947, Mick Tobin was the licensee of the Commercial Hotel, and when the hotel burnt down in 1954, he transferred to The Oaks Hotel at Albion Park Rail.

External LinkHotel License was Once Exchanged for a Mail Run 1954Albion Park 1885Hotel Gutted 1954Old Hotel Destroyed by Fire 1954