Hotels
Sketch of the inside of a bush tavern in Queensland ca. 1875 https://www.slq.qld.gov.au/blog/discovering-publicans-queensland
Cabarlah had five pubs at different times in the last 150 years. However, there were only two in existence at the same time and only one from 1904.
The Welcome Home was situated on the East side of the highway at a shop (1871 – 1883) at the top of the hill, and there was a sly-grog shop from at least 1867; the Farmer’s Arms a bit further north of the shop (1876 – 1902) and close to the corner of Evans Rd East, and another (Railway Tavern) opposite the Railway station (1884 – 1904) on corner of Costello Road (licence transferred from the Welcome Home). Finally, one was built on the Railway property after the first Railway Tavern Hotel burnt down, and renamed the Farmers’ Arms (1904 – present). The All Springs was opened for a few years in the 1880's near the corner of Meringandan Rd and the highway.
There were a few other hotels in the vicinity, including the Rangeview at Highfields. There were also a number of people who were wine and spirit merchants (including Benjemin & Sprio; Berkman; Davidson, Grigg, D. and Phillips), but whether they plied their ware in Five Mile is unknown (Spiro did own the shop on the corner of por 317).
In 1866 there was a licence renewal notification in the Darling Downs Gazette for:
Bushman’s Arms (J. Webb Drayton, Geham, Aubginy) in 1863. I have been unable to establish this site but the Qld Govt Gazette does have the word “Geham” (no 415) and there is a T Webb registered as a farmer on Highfields Rd in 1868. There was a Bushman’s Arms with J Webb in 1861 at Winchester Rd Drayton.
William Perkins Highfields (this is near Geham Saw Mills)
Joseph Melden Welcome Home (one mile from Toowoomba). This has an important link to Cabarlah (the licence transferred from there to Five Mile)
A new licence Daniel Moss for the Rising Sun Geham Road (further south at the site of school at Highfields, in the parish of Toowoomba)
Pic-Nic Hotel licencee was H Lear Pentecost (application granted in 1865), so sometimes called the Pentecost) This may have been in the Ashburton estate opposite Lot 52 (Toowoomba) Main Highfields Rd on the north end of Ruthven St...difficult to find this lot) close to the hotels of Meldon near Gowrie Creek.
So, the earliest hotel in the region may have been in Geham nearer the timber mill. It was called the Highfields (or sometimes Perkins) (1864 – 1894). Another, the Geham, (also called Watson’s) co-existed for some of this time (1892-1897). It may have been the same one "Donald Mclntosh, for the Geham Road, were granted conditionally, on certain fortnight" (Publican's licensing meeting 1866).
The Rising Sun (1868 – 1871) which was bought by the Education Dept and turned into the school, was situated at Highfields (In 2017 was a Chocolate shop), which made eight hotels in the Highfields/Geham district at different times, but perhaps only five (or six licences).
A hotel called the "All Spring's" was situated opposite Meringandan Road near Rocky Creek. A Public licence was sought by the owner of the property Mr John N. Barker.
"JOHN BARKER, now residing at KB Rocky Creek, in tho District of Highfields do hereby give notice that it is my intention to apply at the next Special Petty sessions to beholden for the District, on the 13th day of June next ensuing, for a Publicans licence, for the Sale of Fermented and Spirituous Liquors, in the house and appurtenances thereunto, situated at Rocky Creek, three miles from the Highfields Court House, adjacent to the main Highfields and Meringandan road, containing two sitting rooms and four bedrooms exclusive of those required for my family. The house is my own property, and which I intend to keep as an Inn or Public House, under the sign of the " ALL-SPRING'S HOTEL."
I am married having a wife and seven children. I have not held a License before. Given under my hand this 15th day of May one thousand eight hundred and eighty two.
JOHN BARKER"
