Hotels

The book on the Early hotels at Highfields is about to launch:

Hotels once served as the centre of rural life in the small settlements stretching from Toowoomba to Geham. Whether they remained open for only a year or operated for more than a century, each hotel holds a unique story that reflects the character and experiences of the local community.

At points in history, a traveller could frequent up to 25 hotels when venturing north. Within a few kilometres of North Street, were eight establishments: the Welcome Home Tavern, the Harlaxton Hotel, Pic Nic Hotel, and Railway Tavern. Turn right down Murphy’s Creek Road was the original Blue Mountain, another Railway Tavern within the Ballard’s Camp, and the Radford and Narrow Gauge Hotels at Holmes’ Camp.

Further north, approaching what is now Highfields, stood the Range View Hotel and the Rising Sun Hotel. Continuing along the highway and turning onto Meringandan Road travellers reached the All Springs Hotel and at Kleinton, was the Just In Time. At Meringandan was a Farmers Arms Hotel, and the Jubilee and the Criterion Hotels. Close by were the Ellendean Hotel, the Navvies Home Inn, the Pick and Shovel, and the Cawdor Hotel.

Moving on to Cabarlah you find the Welcome Home Tavern, the first Farmers Arms Hotel, the Railway Tavern, and the current Farmers Arms Hotel. A few kilometres beyond were the Geham Hotel, and finally the Highfields Hotel.

To hear more about these historic hotels and the vibrant lives of the people who lived in the district, attend the launch of the book dedicated to their history. Reading the book offers a true sense of the community’s spirit and the important role these establishments played throughout the years.

Book Launch Details:

Date: 18 April, 10.30am

Venue: Farmers Arms Cabarlah

Cost: $25 + postage

To purchase or RSVP:

Email: lindaagalligan@gmail.com or jmoor@skymesh.com.au

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. Actually, between the then Highfields boundary on the south (at current North St) and just north of Geham there were over 20 hotels at different times between 1865 and the1910s.

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 by John Barker for a few years in the 1880's along Meringandan Rd.

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), but no licences seem to have been registered for the area.

There were also four pubs at Meringandan - The Farmer's Arms, The Criterion (still in existence) and for a few years just north of Meringandan, The Ellendean. The Jubilee was the first in the area (1898) but burnt down in 1900. It was on the same land as the Criterion.

In 1866 there was a licence renewal notification in the Darling Downs Gazette for:

William Perkins Highfields (this was north of the Geham Station). [ Geham was another pub close by, originally owned by Terrance McCaul in 1883 and burnt down in 1897).
Joseph Meldon Welcome Home (one mile from Toowoomba where Downlands is now situated). This has an important link to Cabarlah (the licence transferred from there to Five Mile)
Daniel Moss's Rising Sun on Highfields 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 was just north of the current Blue Mountain Hotel carpark on the Main Highfields Rd.

A hotel called the "All Spring's" was situated opposite Meringandan Road near "Rocky Creek" (this may have been what is now KLein Creek). A Public licence was sought by the owner of the property Mr John N. Barker. This is a typical ad in the newspaper identifying the licencee and the hotel and other required details. Note not all applicants were granted licenses:

"JOHN BARKER, now residing at Rocky Creek, in the 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"

The earliest hotel in the region may have been in Geham very near the old timber mill. It was called the Highfields (or sometimes Perkins) (1864 – 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).

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