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Three generations...
“Visitors from the Other Colonies... will find all the comforts of home combined with a first-class Hotel.” -Advertisement in Walch’s Tasmanian Almanac, 1878
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For three generations the hotel was owned by the Cowburn family, who also owned simultaneously two other hotels in New Norfolk (The Star and Garter and the New Norfolk Hotel). Originally they came from the Southhampton area to Tasmania to set up a brewery in Battery Point before buying the Jolly Hatters Brewery and Family Hotel in Hobart. The Jolly Hatters were the “Manufacturer (by steam) of Aerated Waters, Ginger Beer, Soda Water, Lemonade, Sarsparilla, &c. Also of Cordials, Peppermint, Lemon Syrup, Cloves, Gingerade, Ginger Wine, Cherry Brandy, Bitters, Raspberry Vinegar &c., &c.”
As with any building in any town, other ‘modernisations’ eventually take place. In July of 1901 the owner of the Bush Inn, Mr William Cowburn, paid Clerk, Walker and Hore, Solicitors, of Hobart the sum of £8-18-6129 for the purchase of land from Edward and Clara Elizabeth Wass for drainage of “foul water (from time to time collected and being in the bathroom) ...and any rain water to drain and flow out.” This bill consisted of £6-6-0 for among other things “...perusing, verifying and approving the Abstract of the Title, drawing..., registering, stamping and completing the Conveyance. ...and many and long attendenances upon and letters to you, Mrs Wass, ...the Surveyor and others.”, plus the sum of £2-12-6 for “Stamp duty, government fees, parchment etc”.
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From the front. |
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Bush Hotel and gardens, from the river, date unknown. |
Visitors of another kind called at the hotel in 1902. Two Japanese steam-sail training ships called into Hobart on a visit of the South Pacific. The Mercury of Saturday 10 May 1902 reported,
The first intimation coastal wise of the Japanese training ships HIJMS (His Imperial Japanese Majesties Ship) Hiyei (under Captain Iwasaki) and HIJMS Kongo (Captain Ijichi), whose arrival here has been looked forward to with a considerable degree of anticipation ever since the announcement was made several weeks ago that they were to visit this port, was received from Eaglehawk Neck between 12 and One pm on Friday, the message stating that two white steamers with funnels and black tops, were passing south under sail. At 3.50 pm the visitors were reported from Mt Nelson as being off Cape Raoul, and at 6.55 pm they entered the Derwent River and came to an anchorage. It is expected they will come into port this morning. |
On Monday the report130 continues,
| The Japanese training ships Hiyei and Kongo, which anchored off the pilot station, Pearson’s Point... came up the point on Saturday morning, dropping anchor in the stream shortly before nine o’clock. They fired the customary [cannon] salute and the courtesy was returned from the Queens Battery. They left Yokosuka Harbour on February 19 and made calls at Manila, Thursday Island, Townsville and Melbourne, leaving the latter on the 7th Inst. ...The Captains of the vessels paid several visits, including one to the Governor, Sir Arthur Havelock. On Sunday a large number of the ships companies were ashore, visiting various parts of the city... |
Nor did the crew confine their visits to the city, many venturing up the Derwent Valley, certainly as far as the Bush Inn. Twenty Japanese Officers from the HIJMS Kongo signed the visitors book on 19 May 1902, with a further five Officers from the HIJMS Hiyeio visiting the following day.
Nor, it seems, were the Japanese the only ones doing the visiting. The Mercury for Tuesday [May 13] reports the visitors to the ships included Captain Sheppard, Private Secretary to His Excellency the Governor, the Premier (Hon NE Lewis CMG), the Treasurer (Hon BS Bird), the Minister for Lands (Hon E Mulcahy), the Secretary to the Premier (Mr D Addison), the Master Warden of the Marine Board (Mr AE Risby), the Secretary of the Marine Board (Mr J Adams) and the State Collector of Customs (Mr J Barnard).
The visit was not without incident, Kitani Jirozaemon, a 21 years old sailor died on board the Hiyei on the Tuesday [13 May] of “natural causes131”. He was accorded a naval funeral, leaving from the Princess Wharf to the Queensborough Cemetery.
After coaling up on Thursday [22nd] the two warships departed the Derwent at 10.45 am on Saturday 24 May after their two week visit.
The 1911/12 tour by the English cricket side saw tests played on the mainland, and in Tasmania on January 26, 27 and 29 1912. On the rest day, Sunday, the visitors had a ‘day out’. As reported in the Mercury132 they had a “Trip to New Norfolk”.
At the invitation of the Tasmanian Cricket Association the visitors went to New Norfolk yesterday on the SS Tarana. They were accompanied by members of the Tasmanian team and a large number of cricket enthusiasts. The Englishmen thoroughly enjoyed the trip and were loud in their praise of the picturesque river and mountain scenery. They were entertained at dinner at New Norfolk and returned to the city shortly before five o’clock.
The two teams in that game were:
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Tasmania RJ Hawson (Captain) MS McKenzie CWB Martin WK Eltham JL Hudson EAC Windsor GD Paton FE Chancellor TD Carroll ET Boddan H Parkinson |
England FR Foster (Captain) W Rhodes FE Wooley JW Hearne S Kinnear CP Mead J Iremonger J Vine H Strudwick SF Barnes JW Hitch |
The English had cause to enjoy their day out. At the end of play on the second day Tasmania was 3 for 113, chasing the English first innings total of four declared for 574. Frank Woolley scored 305 not out in just 229 minutes, making him the highest scorer in first class games in Tasmania, and the second highest as an Englishman in Australia133.
For those interested:
Tasmania v MCC134
Played at Hobart 26, 27, 29 January, 1912
Toss won by Tasmania
Umpires: T Harper, A Williams
Result: MCC won by an innings and 95 runs.
Mentioned in the newspaper article was their dinner—at the Bush Inn Hotel.
At the time a day out, including a cruise from Hobart to New Norfolk on a steamer and a meal at the Bush Inn, was a popular excursion. The advertisement (opposite) is typical of many for the steamers that plied the Derwent135:
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River Derwent Excursions to New Norfolk FROM ELIZABETH STREET PIER
25 Miles of Beautiful Scenery: Smooth Water Fares: Single 12/6, return (available day of issue), 4/-; Sunday return, 3/-; Week-end Return Tickets; 4/-
THESE TRIPS CAN BE RECOMMENDED AS THE MOST ENJOYABLE IN SOUTHERN WATERS
Light Refreshments Obtainable on Board
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From Walch's Almanac 1920
Original material © November 2000 KM Roberts
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