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 the licensee of the Australian Arms Inn in 1841. The Inn is situated on the corner of the Great Western Highway and Gardenia Avenue Emu Plains (125-129 Great Western Highway). It is part of a larger property extending back to the railway line and boarded to the north by Nepean High School. John 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, was a licensee here at this Arms of Australia Inn (titled Australian Arms Inn at this time) as this was confirmed in 1989 when the Inn was repainted and Mr Beatson's name was found carved above the doorway stating her has been a Licensee. When Beatson left this Inn he took his license as well as the name "'Australian Arms" to another Inn in Emu Plains. This Inn is situated on the corner of Great Western Highway and Old Bathurst road. This Inn had once been called the Traveller's Inn. It later became a post office when Beatson sold it and is now referred to as the old Emu Plains Post Office. John Mortimer changed the original hotel building to Arms of Australia Inn. He died on 30 June 1856 and the land was sold in 1876 by his descendants. His will stated that the property not be sold until his youngest child reached the age of 21. Thomas Ellison bought the property on 28 January 1876. The Inn had ceased operating as an Inn in 1859 and was a private home for the Ellison family. His widow Emma Marie remarried when he died and moved to Bathurst. Thomas's daughter, Sarah inherited it in 1905 and her son James Hunter sold it in 1916 when Sarah died, to Norman Augustus Hunter. In 1949 Norman gifted the building to his daughter, Evvy. In 1966, Evvy, married to Milton Walker, had the title of the land changed to Torres Title and turned 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 Arms of Australia Inn was opened as a museum on 27 March 1976 by Sir John Fuller, Minister for Planning and Environment. It also became a meeting place for the Nepean District Historical Society. The bricks from the demolished Penrith Court House were used to add 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 was 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) |