Wilsons-Hotels-Lawson.Pdf
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The following elevations above the level of the ocean, of points on the road over the Blue Mountains to Bathurst and to the interior to the westward of the meridian, have been computed by John Oxley, Esquire, Surveyor General, taken simultaneously in Sydney and at the respective stations, in the THE WILSON FAMILY year 1817 which barometrical measurements have since that period fully verified by others. Springwood (Military Post) 12V2 miles from Emu Ford 1297 feet Bridge over ravine 17 miles from Emu Ford 1814 feet The Wilson family were over the years to be associated with various inns between Penrith and Mt. Victoria. "The Sydney Caley's Repulse 18 miles from Emu Ford 2110 feet Gazette" in April 1830 records that Charles Abraham Wilson(who Christmas Swamp 24 miles from Emu Ford 2466 feet King's Tableland 26V2 miles from Emu Ford was Henry's brother) was operating "the Pineapple Inn" at Emu 2798 feet Ford, and that his stepfather Jacob Josephson was about to erect a All of the above information is confirmed on a map of the County new building on that site. Josephson had leased 400 acres of the of Bathurst and parts of the adjacent counties together with the estate of Captain Woodriffe for a term of 21 years at a rent of £200 paralleled line of the sea coast and roads thereto from Sydney, p.a. The new inn when completed was named "The Governor New South Wales A.D. 1829. Bourke" with the licensee being Charles Abraham Wilson. This map was drawn by Bemi. Henry Charles Wilson, born Bishopgate Street, London, 9th March, 1814, came free to the colony by the ship "Sir George When first constructed, the Bathurst Road followed the crest of Osborne" in 1826 when he was aged 13 years. In the 1828 census ridges. There were many rises with lower sections between. These his address is shown as being a lodger at Jacob Josephson's, lower sections were in a number of places referred to as 'hollows'. Castlereagh Street, Sydney. In the 1830's to distinguish one from another, they were In 1838 Henry Wilson Married Sarah Affriatte, aged 17 years, at identified by the number of miles they were from Emu Ford on the Castlereagh, and during that year was shown as the licensee of Nepean River, e.g. 17 mile Hollow (now Linden), 20 mile Hollow "The Scotch Thistle" at Blackheath. He was still the licensee in (Woodford). In the N.S.W. Calendar and Directory 1832, under 1839 and 1840, with the name now recorded as "The Thistle". In the heading "Itinerary of Roads", the present Lawson is referred to 1841-42 Henry Wilson managed "The Welcome Inn" at the Valley as 24 mile Hollow. This was to remain the name of the area until (Now Valley Heights). the 1840's. Following Henry Wilson's naming his inn "The Blue Mountain" the locality became Known as "Blue Mountain". This With the acquiring of the land at 24 mile Hollow, Wilson built a name was to remain until the late 1870's when the name "Blue two-storied building on the site, however, shortly after completion, Mountain" began to cause confusion with the range on which it the building was accidentally destroyed by fire. This was replaced stood. by a one-storied building which stood until 1917, when it was demolished by order of the then Blue Mountain Shire Council, On July 21st, 1879 the name was changed to Lawson, this being being unoccupied and derelict. It was then known as the "old after explorer William Lawson. The name Blue Mountain lives on farm"and was described as a "stone building with iron roof and in the area with the local hotel still retaining its original name, also very old, containing eleven rooms". This original inn stood in the a trigonometrical station at the northern end of Queens Road still being known as "Blue Mountain". Wilson Street end of the present Primary School grounds and faced the Great Western Highway. Over the years a garden and large orchard covered the grounds and as late as the 1930's the author can remember the fruit trees still bearing fruit. In March 1845, Henry Wilson applied for a license to retail ferment and spirituous liquors at "The Blue Mountain Inn". This was granted at Penrith on 7th March, 1845 and was to operate from 1st April of that year. 10 11 was behind the bar; later she established herself at the Railway Station, where hot coffee was obtainable by those who did not wish to cross the Bathurst Road to the inn. First Blue Mountain Hotel. 1887 Old Blue Mountain Inn, 1890's In the late 1880's a new building was erected on the corner of the Bathurst Road and Orand Square (now Douglas Square). This was on the site of the present hotel building. This became the first Blue Mountain Hotel with the license of the inn being transferred to it, Sarah Wilson continued to hold this license until the early 1900's. In the early 1900's the first hotel building was incorporated in the construction of the present main hotel building. Over the years additions have been made in the bar area. The second "Blue Mountain Inn" was demolished in 1906 and the present McBrair Building erected on that site in 1923. Henry Wilson also acquired Portion 21. next to his first Portion and the Wilsons retained an interest in most of this land until the early 1900's, it being controlled by Mrs. Sarah Wilson (Henry's widow). Some subdivisions had taken place and some of the streets are named after members of family, e.g. Wilson, Charles, Henry, Adelaide. The Wilsons' land originally extended from what is now Douglas Square to Ridge Street. An interesting article appeared in "The Sydney Mail" dated December 12th, 1896, under the heading, "A Very Old Identity", "Some Old Mountain Lore". Second Blue Mountain Inn, 1870:~ 14 15 The reporter writes: Sarah Wilson, died 28th December, 1910, aged 90 years. Buried "Naturally, in the Mountains, as everywhere else, the old at Faulconbridge. identity is an institution to be cultivated by the seeker after unconsidered knowledge, and in these journeyings to and In 1867 Charles Abraham Wilson (Henry and Sarah's son) fro, I have met many of them. The oldest of the old identities moved to Weatherboard (now Wentworth Falls). There he built is no doubt, Mrs. Sarah Wilson of Lawson; she took to the "the Camp". Later he built "The Grand Hotel"; this was later to be 'Hills' at sweet 17 and is now 76, and still hale and hearty. She controlled by his son William Page Wilson. Dinah Fanny Wilson is the veteran of the licensed victualling trade, and now holds was the first white child to be born at Lawson. her 58th licence. Considerable space has been given to the Wilson family history, 'I can remember the bushrangers', said Mrs. Wilson, 'about 46 with Henry Wilson's foresight in acquiring land and building the years ago, when Butler, Lambert and the Youth came down to "Blue Mountain Inn" this was the foundation of the township of our old inn. They came in with Rouse and Fitzgerald s drivers Lawson of today. and had supper. They spent about five pounds in no time on All previous land legislation in New South Wales was swept out supper and champagne, and had no sooner gone than the of existence by Sir John Robertson's Land Acts of 1861. The Police were down to know If we had seen the bushrangers; we Conditional Purchase Clauses of this Act (free selection before didn't know who they were, of course. It seems they stood survey) provided for conditional purchase by deposit, residence, watching the Police pass them down the road. The gang was improvements and instalments. Further amendments to the Act captured shortly after. When the goldfield broke out it was were made in 1875 and again in 1880. This Act, together with the not unusual to make up 100 beds in a night'. construction of the railway to the area in 1869 attracted a number In the same article Sarah Wilson's youngest son Affriat, told of settlers, who took up land. Better transport attracted business of his past 28 years as a resident of Lawson; he was noted for his and professional men to build country residences. Some those who thorough knowledge of the flora and fauna of the district, especially acquired land in the area during the 1870's and 1880's were W. the snake life, supplying many speciments to museums. He also Day, J.C. Wilson, A.S. Wilson, B.W. Roberts, Joseph Hay, Hay's told of the great number of various birds in the early days of his sister Mary, Frederick Somers, R. Fitzstubbs, E.G. Palmer and residence in Lawson. W.H. Pinhey; Sir Henry Parkes also held a number of Portions in Known members of the Wilson family were: Charles Abraham, the district. In 1879Joseph Hay, who was an official of the Lands Department, born at Blackheath 2nd May, 1840, married Jessie E. James of was granted 300 acres which he named San Jose Estate. This land "The Welcome Inn" the Valley; died 15th July, 1916, buried at stretched from San Jose Avenue along present Hay Street to what Lawson General Cemetery. is now Bullaburra, but it excluded the area of the swimming pool Henry Joseph, born at "The Welcome Inn", The Valley 30th which was under the control of the Railway Department.