Early Adelaide Hills Hotels & Breweries

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Adelaide Hills Hotels & Breweries

Historical records show that dozens of pioneering inns were rapidly established throughout the Adelaide Hills (then commonly called "The Tiers") during the first decade of the colony's settlement (1836–1846). These early establishments sprung up along main bullock-dray and passenger coach tracks, particularly the Great Eastern Road (now Mount Barker Road), serving as vital rest stops for timber cutters ("tiersmen"), overlanders, and traders. They were strategically located at a convenient carriage drive from each other (usually about seven miles). Others were licensed in townships, while quite a number were close to mine sites. Some are still in operation today. By 1850 breweries were operating in Mount Barker and Littlehampton and the brewery at Macclesfield was established next to the Goat's Head Inn in 1851.

Great Eastern Hotel 1843

Built in 1843 and licensed in 1854, it was named after the Great Eastern Road. The name was taken from the road going past to Nairne called the 'Great Eastern Road'. This road is now called the 'Old Princes Highway'. This hotel is one of the oldest continuously operated hotels in South Australia. It is situated at 71 Main Road, Littlehampton (they do excellent meals at good prices).

Blackiston Arms Hotel 1847-1851

The Blakiston Arms Hotel operated on the Little Hampton to Nairne road from 1847-1851. The licensee was Charles Kingston. When Thomas Donoghue was granted the license in 1851, the pub changed its name to the Dublin Castle Hotel. The pub became a favourite gathering place for the many Irish immigrants that had moved into the district. Many wakes were held there as travellers stayed overnight, drinking toasts to the dead. Donoghue was the last license holder and the pub ceased trading in 1869.

Little Hampton Brewery

The Littlehampton Brewery was established in 1850 by Benjamin Gray, who was considered to be the founder of Littlehampton. He was known to have interests in hotels in Hahndorf as well as the 'Grays Inn' at Mount Barker. He died on 3rd September1879 as a result of an industrial accident at his brewery. It was reported that, on 27 August 1879, he was crossing a platform in his brewery immediately above a large vat containing several feet of water, which was nearly at boiling heat, when a part of the wood work of the platform gave way, and he was precipitated into the vat beneath. Mr. Gray was fortunately able to cling to a beam, by which he managed to keep his body out of the hot water, but his feet and legs as far up as the knees were severely scalded. One of his men, who happened to be close at hand, released him from his perilous position. Dr. Weld was in immediate attendance. He died 6 days later. Following the brewery's closure, the Gray Estate disposed of the brewery site in 1921.

Other Hotels - More information later.

German Arms, Hahndorf (1839)
Three Brothers' Arms, Macclesfield (1841)
Wheatsheaf Inn, nr. Mylor (1842, Warrakilla)
Barker Hotel, Mount Barker (1846)
Crown Hotel, Mount Barker (1847)
Callington Hotel (1850)
Crooked Billet, Nairne (c1850)
District Hotel, Nairne (1851)
Bugle Inn, Bugle Ranges (1852)
Black Dog, Kanmantoo (c1853)
Great Eastern, Littlehampton (1853, much altered)
Macclesfield (1854)
Australian Arms, Hahndorf (c1854)
Gray's Inn, Mount Barker (1855)
Morning Star, Wistow (1855)
Beehive Inn, Nairne (1855)
Meadows (1856), much altered)
Brittania, Kanmantoo (1857)
Hagen Arms, Echunga (1858)
Tavistock, Callington (1859)
Millers' Arms, Nairne (1860)
Gray's Inn, Mount Barker (c1860)
Lord Nelson, nr Wistow (1861)
Kanmantoo Hotel, Kanmantoo (1863)
German Arms, Hahndorf (c1880s)