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The Railway Hotel John Heuston, who was born in Tipperary, Ireland, first held a licence for the Railway Hotel, situated on the corner of John and Elizabeth Streets, Singleton, from 1860 -1864. This was originally Joseph Singleton's 'Cross Keys' Inn. The Maitland Mercury 19-5-1864 reported "At the bend of John Street and nearly opposite the Benevolent Asylum is a large brick building in the course of erection. It is the property of John Heuston and is intended for a public house". The Maitland Mercury 25-6-1864 reported the granting of the licence to John Heuston as the Railway Hotel, for this building. The hotel was situated just outside the Singleton town boundry, on part of Andrew McDougal1's 'Kelso' land grant. Following John Heuston's death on 26-3-1868, aged 49 years, the licence was transferred to his wife, Johanna, whom he had married in Sydney in 1842. They had 6 sons and 4 daughters, Mary Ann, Margaret Louisa, Jane & Johanna. Johanna Heuston died on24-5-1876 and was buried in the Catholic cemetery, Queen Street Singleton, beside her husband. The eldest daughter, Mary Ann, had married George Moss in Sydney in 1864 and their children were born there from 1865 -- 1869. The 1874 Electoral Roll listed George Moss as Freehold, John Street, Singleton. He died at Singleton on 18-3-1874 and was buried in the Church of England Cemetery, Randwick beside his first wife. They may have been associated with the hotel. The Inns & Hotels 1825 ~ 1900 publication, compiled by Catherine Foggo, stated the licence was transferred from Johanna Heuston to her daughter, Margaret, in 1873. Maitland Mercury 26-7-1893 advised of extensions and alterations to the hotel for Margaret Heuston. State Archives records show Margaret Heuston as holding the licence to 1875 and when she married Walter Charles Hand, he then became the licensee. In 1877 the hotel was advertised as "Brick on stone foundations, with a frontage of 74 feet to John Street by 150 feet depth and being opposite the intersection of that street with the Great North Road (now Gowrie Street), in good state of repair, containing 11 rooms, bar, the interior woodwork and fittings are excellent, a brick kitchen and storeroom are in good condition, also slab outhouses, slab stables and shed". Edward Alcorn became Mine Host in 1878 and he died at the hotel on 5-6-1880. He was buried in the Church of England cemetery Whittingham. Robert Freeman followed as Licensee from October 1880 and then Thomas Balls from January, 1875 to 1897. He was born at Black Creek (Branxton) and had first married a daughter of Samuel Marshall, a member of John Howe's 1820 discovery party. After the death of his young wife he came to Bowman's Creek, Goorangoola, and was engaged in grazing pursuits. William George Benson obtained the licence in 1898. He was also an alderman on South Singleton Municipal Council from February 1903 until his resignation in April 1904, on leaving the district. Julius C. Von Keitzing had become licensee on 29-03-1904 and then James Hardcastle in May 1904 until 1909. Horton William Atkinson followed in early December, 1909. Mrs. Mary Benson, a sister--in-law of William George Benson was the last licensee under the sign of the Railway Hotel. As Mary Elliott, she had married Paul Alfred Benson at Singleton in 1895. He died at the Post Office Hotel, Carroll, near Gunnedah, on 10-9-1905, aged 39 years, having only been there for 15 months. He was buried in the C of E Cemetery Whittinghain. His obituary stated him as "formerly landlord of the Railway Hotel". At the Licensing Court on 20-6-1912 the hotel sign was changed to the "Central". The hotel was greatly altered in 1927 and included a new facade. Unfortunately, no detail is known to date. Mrs Mary Benson died on 5-7-1929 and was buried in the Catholic Cemetery Queen Street. She was the daughter of John & Catherine Elliott of Granbalang, Rix's Creek. A photograph given to a member of the Heuston family some years ago and said to be the Railway Hotel, appears to be the same hotel, a photograph copy of which was given to the Singleton Historical Society as the Terminus Hotel. Both photos were given by Mrs. Catherine Foggo. References:- Maitland Mercury Singleton Argus Inn Licenses to 1920-State Archives NSW Family History Society Singleton Inc Submitted by Dot Clayworth. Gazette Vol 25 No 2 August 2008 Page 11 |