Arms of Australia Inn : from wayside inn to local museum
Parr, LornaUUUU
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This is the story of the Arms of Australia Inn which is currently the Arms of Australia Inn Museum. This heritage building is one of the few wayside inns remaining in Australia.In 1814-15 Government Stockyards and Soldiers' Barracks were erected at Emu Plains (approximately at Hunter and River Roads intersection).. In 1819 Governor Macquarie decided to form an Agricultural Convict Establishment at Emu Plains which was closed in 1831. A part of this land was owned by John Mortimer who was licencee of the Australian Arms Inn in 1841. He married Emma Maria Sweetman in 1836. Her parents worked at the orphan School at Parramatta. They had seven children. License signed in 1842. Robert Beatson bought licence and when he left the Mortimer building he took the original name Australian Arms Inn to hotel on corner of Great Western Highway and Old Bathurst road Emu Plains. This building is now referred to as the old Emu Plains post office. Mortimer changed name original hotel building to Arms of Australia Inn. He sold business in 1876 to Thomas Ellison. Thomas's daughter, Sarah inherited it in 1905 and her husband James Hunter sold it in 1916 when Sarah died, to Norman Augustus Hunter. In 1949 Norman gifted the building to Evvy Walker. In 1966, Evvy had the title of the land changed to Torres Title and changed the building into two flats. In 1969 she sold it to company Lucas and Tait. The Nepean District Historical Society approached Penrith City Council to purchase it as plans were to demolish building. In 1971 Council purchased the Inn and restoration plans lead to wide fundraising in the community coordinated by NDHS.The huge flame tree was transplanted from Government House Emu Plains that was demolished at this time.The keys of the Arms of Australia Inn were handed over by the Mayor to the Inn committee in 1975. The bricks from the demolished Penrith Court House were used to ass a new meeting room and toilet block in 1981 to the Inn. In 1996 the old tin shed and water tank were removed and the Cooper Brothers built a barn for storage. In 1991 Jim Scott donated a windmill in pieces that were erected by 1996 through Shane Robinson's Crane Hire company. The shingles were replaced by new shingles. Jean Jones was the first Archivist in the Museum.
Main title:
Arms of Australia Inn : from wayside inn to local museum / by Lorna Parr.
Author:
Imprint:
Penrith, NSW : Lorna Parr.
Collation:
12 pages : photographs
Contents:
Contents: Early PenrithPrivate ownershipJohn Mortimer publicanLicense - New TenantsEmu Plains joined Penrith - Historical Society as tenantsRestorationFurther additionsStroll through the InnPenrith communityTime line.
Dewey class:
647.9409
Language:
English
Subject:
Montefiore, Joseph BarrowMortimer, John, 1808-1856Ellison family (Penrith region, NSW, history)Hunter family (Penrith Region, NSW, history)Nepean District Historical Society (N.S.W.)Arms of Australia Inn (Emu Plains, NSW) -- HistoryArms of Australia Inn Museum (Emu Plains, NSW) -- HistoryHotels -- Emu Plains (NSW) -- HistoryEmu Plains (NSW) -- History
BRN:
119979
| Location | Collection | Call number | Status/Desc |
|---|---|---|---|
| Research | Local Book | 647.9409 ARM | Not for loan (Set: 10 Feb 2016) |
| Research | Local Book | 647.9409 ARM | Not for loan (Set: 10 Feb 2016) |