WHEN the International Hotel closed for business in 1928 there were 14 pubs trading in Armidale, on the NSW Northern Tablelands – a town with a population of between 6,000 and 7,000!
Sadly now consigned to the pages of history, the International Hotel was located at 140 Miller Street, Armidale. A shopping centre now occupies the site.
The hotel was opened in 1883 by Mary Ann Connelly, concurrent with the nearby railway. It was advertised as the “closest hotel to the station” and sat on what was at the time the main route into Armidale township.
The pub sat on the Great Northern Road, near a level crossing – the obvious place to spend time when the gates were closed.
During the 1920s the freehold of the pub was owned by William Joseph Doyle. Arthur William Chapman was licensee when the hotel was forced to shut by the NSW Licensing Reduction Board. It closed for business on June 30 1928.
In the broader Armidale police district, which had an estimated population of 10,200, there were 18 pubs trading in 1928 when the International Hotel closed.
Interestingly, the International Hotel was officially just outside the Armidale municipality, and at the time of its closure, was the only pub “on the other side of the rail line”.
The pub was said to have been a favourite with railwaymen, stock salesmen and drovers.
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Categories: NSW hotels
This hotel was built/formerly owned by my ancestor, Mr Augustus Stahlhut. Changed hands to Mr Doyle in 1885.
Can you give us a precise location?
Hi Mick, 140 Miller Road Armidale, now a lot of shops (Furniture Plus, Lincraft and BCF) in the approx location where the pub stood.