The Commercial Hotel Aberdeen on the New England Highway began as the early Aberdeen Inn, constructed in 1837–1838 with hand-made bricks fired in a local kiln. Officially opened in April 1839 with Ralph George Martin as its first licensee, it served as a vital stopover for early teamsters in the NSW Hunter Valley.
Built when Aberdeen had only a handful of houses; bricks were hauled and fired by a contractor named Hadaway from Red Hill from about 1837.
The first liquor license was issued to Ralph George Martin on April 17, 1839, catering to teamsters travelling between Morpeth and the north.
The pub acted as a central landmark and community hub as traffic increased along the northern stock and transport routes from the 1840s through to the 1890s.
Transition to the Commercial Hotel
In 1910, publican W. R. D. Stephens bought the license from a hotel in Moonan, transferred it to the Aberdeen site, and secured the freehold from the Cundy Estate, formally reshaping the landmark’s modern era.
In 1926 Thomas W. Hudson became licensee, and in 1933 he purchased the hotel’s freehold. In 1938, he undertook a major rebuild costing costing over £3,000, cementing its structure as a key regional watering hole. Hudson hosted the pub for over 30 years.
Today, the Commercial Hotel operates as a family-friendly country pub and bistro on the New England Highway, preserving its historic ties to the foundation days of the Aberdeen township.
The Scone Advocate published the following detailed history of the pub on Friday, April 21, 1939:
The Commercial Hotel, Aberdeen
Rebuilt After Lapse of 100 Years
Involving a total expenditure of more than £3000, the work of re building the old Commercial Hotel at Aberdeen has now been completed.
Much early history, dealing with the early days of the town is linked up with this old landmark, and through the courtesy of the Mitchell Library, Licensing Court, and the descendants of early settlers some interesting in formation has now been made available.
It was early in 1838 that the construction of this hotel was commenced. In those far-off days the area boasted but half a dozen houses, and these were far apart. However, the centre soon became busy, due main ly to many towns in the north and north-west taking shape, and the teamsters, who plied from Morpeth up, made Aberdeen a stopping place.
At times, particularly in wet seasons, as many as 100 teams have been known to camp at a spot near the present traffic bridge across the Hunter River. When floods occurred they were held up for weeks at a time.
All the bricks for the hotel building were hand-made, and a contractor named Hadaway erected a kiln at Red Hill, several miles south of the town.
The two-storey structure, after many building delays, was completed in 1839, and the official opening ceremony took place in April.
On the 17th of that month the first licence was issued to one Ralph George Martin for the Aberdeen Inn, as it was then called. The annual duty was fixed at £25, and this sum had to be paid in quarterly instalments. At the end of the period Martin sought a renewal, but the Crown had, by this time increased the yearly rate to £30.
Some 12 months later, on the 14th May, 1840, Phillip Wright assumed control. He too, at this time owned and controlled the Aberdeen general store.
Wright apparently did not care so much for the hotel business, because on the 15th of October of the same year he disposed of his interest to Robert Hannaford. By this time the township was beginning to go ahead.
A steam flour mill was opened in November, 1840, by Edward Sparke, junr., and other prominent men who had taken up large areas of land and come to reside in the district were Thomas Potter MacQueen, who owned the Segen-hoe Estate, Dr. Bowman, Peter and Donald Mclntyre, H. and W. Dangar, W. Buchanan, A. Coxen and Donald McDonald.
Hannaford continued in the hotel for many years. In 1851 John Cundy, who then lived at ‘Whissonsett,’ Blandford, came to the village, and almost immediately purchased the hotel outright. He made a success of his investment, and as time went on acquired much land in and around the town.
Next door to the hotel he established a blacksmithing business, and a little further south he opened a general store. All these remained in the hands of the Cundy family for a long period.
Shortly after he took control of the public (house) John Cundy changed the name to the Australian Inn. He was twice married. His first wife, Mrs. Catherine Cundy, died in the 3rd May, 1857, at the age of 40 years. Her remains were laid to rest in the grounds of St. Luke’s Church of England at Scone. There was no cemetery here at that time.
Several years later Cundy married Miss Margaret MacDonald, a sister of Donald MacDonald, of the Segenhoe Estate. There was one son, Jack, of the second union. John Cundy, by the way, had three brothers, William, Samuel, and Elias, but the latter remained in Victoria.
In 1881 John Cundy died, and his second wife passed away some eight months later. Soon after this William Cundy, following a short illness, was laid to rest.
In 1882 Robert Stewart was granted the licence after marrying the widow of William Cundy. Stewart carried on for 10 years before he disposed of the licence to William Grogan.
There was a good deal of activity in the town at this period, and a large number of men were employed on the construction of the Aberdeen Meat Works. Grogan now had a prosperous business, but several years later it was found necessary to wind up the estate of the late John Cundy. All his property was submitted at auction, and the son, John, purchased much land, including the hotel.
About this time a city tea merchant called here in search of orders. His name was George Cole, and he stopped at the inn. Following a short engagement he married the remaining single daughter of the late John Cundy, and the couple took charge of the business.
After several years Cole decided to return to the city, and sold out to Jim Lawrence, who now lives at Quirindi. Lawrence eventually disposed of the licence to Sidney Whitehead.
Mr. Whitehead, who is still hale and hearty, tells many interesting tales of hotel life in the early days. He remained in charge for about three years. Licence fees still had to be paid quarterly to the Crown, and his weekly rent had to be remitted to the Cundy Estate, which was being controlled by a Sydney department. The Crown issued instructions to Mr. Whitehead to carry out a number of improvements at the inn, and he wrote to the officials of the estate offering to do the work at his own expense and seeking permission. This came back without delay, but the letter also stated that when the work had been completed the rent would be increased. There were no arguments over the matter, but when the licence expired one Saturday at 11pm in 1903 he shut the doors, removed his belongings, and walked out.
The historic building remained closed and unlicensed until about 1910 when Mr. W. R. D. Stephens bought the licence of the Commercial Hotel at Moonan (then owned by Henry Kilbride), and had it transferred to Aberdeen.
In the meantime he had secured the freehold of the Aberdeen premises from the Cundy Estate. The name was immediately changed from the Australian Inn to the Commercial Hotel, and Mr. Stephens commenced business after carrying out a number of improvements.
Shortly after, he resold to Mr. B. J. Martin, who, along with his wife, remained here for many years. They eventually left to live in Sydney, and following a number of changes, Mr. Tom W. Hudson came here in 1926. He took over on the 29th April of that year, and has conducted it successfully ever since, buying the freehold six years ago.
Dealing with the early days of this old hostelry its history would be in complete if mention were not made of one of the town’s oldest residents. Mrs. Tamson Cumberland, of Kayuga street, is still enjoying reasonably good health. Now in her 84th year she came to Australia with her parents (Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Cundy) in the sailing ship ‘Fitz James’ in 1858. The family were met at Morpeth by Mr. John Cundy’s transports — two drays and horses — and conveyed to Aberdeen. Her father took up land at Lower Rouchel, the pick of which he secured for 27/6 an acre.
Free subscription to the latest Time Gents’s stories
Categories: Australian Hotels, NSW hotels, Publicans
What's Your Thoughts?