Breelong Inn Site

Item details


Name of item:	Breelong Inn Site
Type of item:	Archaeological-Terrestrial
Group/Collection:	Transient Accommodation
Category:	Inn/Tavern
Location:	Lat: S31° 48.711’ Long: E148° 47.523’
Primary address:	Castlereagh Road (Off), Gilgandra, NSW 2827
Local govt. area:	Gilgandra

All addresses

Street Address	Suburb/town	LGA	Parish	County	Type
Castlereagh Road (Off)	Gilgandra	Gilgandra			Primary Address
Mendooran Road, Off	Gilgandra	Gilgandra			Alternate Address

Statement of significance:


	The Breelong Inn was a changing station and hostelry for coaches and travellers on the road between Mendooran and Gilgandra. The inn site has associations with John Mawbey father of the family involved in the Breelong Massacre. The site is representative of the changing stations located along coaching routes in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The Breelong Inn site has local historical and historical association significance, and representativeness. It has little integrity.
	Date significance updated: 29 Sep 08
	Note: The State Heritage Inventory provides information about heritage items listed by local and State government agencies. The State Heritage Inventory is continually being updated by local and State agencies as new information becomes available. Read the Department of Premier and Cabinet copyright and disclaimer.

Description


Construction years:	1867-
Physical description:	The inn site is located above the bank of Wallumburrawang Creek. It is marked by a thicket of Acacias.
Physical condition and/or Archaeological potential:	The site is considered to have moderate archaeological potential.
	Date condition updated:29 Sep 08


Current use:	Ruin
Former use:	Inn

History

Historical notes:

In 1867 an inn was established by John Healey on his Breelong run. This inn was located on the southern side of Wallumburrawang Creek. In 1869 the licence for the inn was held by James Healey. It was closed in 1869. It is possible that Johnny Enright operated the inn from this time without a licence. John Mawbey held a licence for the inn from 1878. He was staying here the night his family was attacked by Jimmy Governor and Jacky Underwood in 1900. Mawbey closed the inn after this tragedy. (Mudford 1988:205)

The inn was a stopping place and changing station for Cobb & Co on their run between Mendooran and Gilgandra. Other changing stations on this run were at the Bushmans Arms Hotel, Gilgandra and at Appletree Flat Half Way House. The inn also served as a non-official post office from April 1894. John Mawbey was the Receiving Officer. Mail was ‘sorted, stamped, bagged and delivered to Mendooran each Sunday’. The post office closed in July 1901 when John Mawbey moved away from the district. From 1901 to 1928 the inn was also used as a telephone office when a line was erected from Mendooran. (Mudford 1988:205)

The inn was a slab-walled building with a shingle roof. Walls were lined with lath and daub and whitewashed. (Mudford 1988:204)

Historic themes

Australian theme (abbrev)	New South Wales theme	Local theme
3. Economy-Developing local, regional and national economies	Commerce-Activities relating to buying, selling and exchanging goods and services	(none)-
3. Economy-Developing local, regional and national economies	Transport-Activities associated with the moving of people and goods from one place to another, and systems for the provision of such movements	(none)-

Assessment of significance


SHR Criteria a) [Historical significance]	The Breelong Inn was a changing station and hostelry for coaches and travellers on the road between Mendooran and Gilgandra. It has local historical significance.
SHR Criteria b) [Associative significance]	The inn site has associations with John Mawbey father of the family involved in the Breelong Massacre. It has local historical association significance.
SHR Criteria g) [Representativeness]	The Breelong Inn site is representative of the changing stations located along coaching routes in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Integrity/Intactness:	The place has little integrity.
Assessment criteria:	Items are assessed against the State Heritage Register (SHR) Criteria to determine the level of significance. Refer to the Listings below for the level of statutory protection.

Listings

Heritage Listing	Listing Title	Listing Number	Gazette Date	Gazette Number	Gazette Page
Local Environmental Plan	Gilgandra Local Environmental Plan 2011	A92	09 Dec 11
Heritage study

Study details

Title	Year	Number	Author	Inspected by	Guidelines used
Gilgandra Shire Community Based Heritage Study	2008		Ray Christison	Ray Christison	Yes
Gilgandra Shire Community Based Heritage Study	2008		Ray Christison	Ray Christison	Yes

References, internet links & images

Type	Author	Year	Title	Internet Links
Written	Bartley, Betty		The Mawbey Murder Papers
Written	Mudford, J & C	1988	Breelong and Her Neighbours - Along the Castlereagh

Note: internet links may be to web pages, documents or images.

(Click on thumbnail for full size image and image details)

Data source


The information for this entry comes from the following source:
Name:	Local Government
Database number:	1590065

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