Seven Pubs, a Brewery and a Murder: The Illawarra’s First Decade of Licensed Trade

1830-1840

_{By MICK ROBERTS ©}

SHAKING off the stigma of lawlessness, drunkenness and a reputation as a refuge for bushrangers, brought attempts at social restructure in the Illawarra. With word of increasing public order, settlers began arriving by the boatload during the 1830s.

Through the 1830s, the NSW colonial government continued as an autocracy run by a British-appointed Governors during this decade, and had an unelected advisory council rather than a democratic parliament. The growing calls for public order, saftey and stability, meant another revamp of the NSW liquor act in 1830, decreeing licensed hotels or inns provide accommodation with “at least two sitting rooms and two sleeping rooms, for public accommodation”.

This legislation was the birth of the concept of the modern hotel. The Act further provided:

• That liquor licenses granted by a central authority, and not randomly from local authorities.
• That the number of liquor licenses be controlled.
• That publicans provide accommodation, as well as liquor.
• That trading hours be specified.
• That subsidiary types of licenses be granted.
• Government officials, prisoners, and the wives of Crown prisoners were strictly barred from holding a liquor license or acting as a surety.
• That civil police supervise all licensed premises and administer the liquor laws.
• Publicans had to paint their names clearly over their doors.
• Publicans had to keep a lamp burning all night under penalty of fines ranging from £1 to £5.
• Operating an unlicensed house with a sign or mark drew much heavier penalties of £10 to £40.

Wollongong was on the brink of becoming the region’s centre of commercial trade. The military barracks had moved from Port Kembla to the Wollongong boat harbour under the leadership of Lieutenant JF Butler in 1830 and calls were made to survey a township.

The 39^th Regiment had brought stability to the Illawarra and troops were sent to Kiama to build a barracks to preserve order among the cedar getters in 1831. With the introduction of assisted free immigration to the colony the same year a new breed of settler began arriving.

Convicts and their masters, who dominated the population of the region through the 1820s, gave way to immigrants in search of a new life and an eagerness to make the Illawarra a safe home for their families. Free settlers brought a sense of permanence and stability as plans were afoot to establish Wollongong as Illawarra’s first gazetted township.

Among the Illawarra settlers were prospective publicans who were required to apply for hotel licenses to military magistrate Lieutenant George Sleeman in a make-shift court house – a small tent – pitched on a clearing near the Wollongong boat harbour.

The merchant navy arrived with sailing and steam schooners to the primitive port. Vessels, such as the Bee, Alice, Jane and Fanny, were importing provisions from Sydney and exporting cedar, potatoes and other crops from Wollongong boat harbour.

Enterprising businessmen realised an opportunity existed for a licensed hotel and the Illawarra Magistrate would soon be asked to consider a public house license for Wollongong.

_{© Copyright Mick Roberts 2026}

Coming soon… Illawarra Pubs: Chapter Three, 1840 – 1850

Have you missed Illawarra Pubs: Chapter One, 1820 – 1830? Find it HERE

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