Brief notes on the remainder of the century

This chapter is far from a complete history of the Bush Inn during the latter part of the Twentieth Century. There is, indeed, a reason for this.

That reason is simply that at this moment I have not had the time to be able to compile the information. As suggested this volumes title, that which may be called the ‘recent history’ of the hotel should form the basis of a second volume when this has been completed. With more access to information, including the recollections of people still living, it would probably double (or more) the size of this publication.

Still, particularly for visitors to the Bush Inn, I thought it necessary to include some of the recent history here, so I hope you’ll forgive me for its brevity.

As a purely arbitrary starting time, I have used the final years of the period that hotel was owned by the Cowburn family to begin this chapter.

Probably the most charming township in Tasmania, situated on the banks of the Derwent River, 21 miles North of Hobart. The surrounding countryside has a very English appearance, owing to the numerous poplar, oak, willow and elm trees. There is also much historic interest to be found in the old buildings round and about New Norfolk. Frequent trains and service cars, together with river steamers, make a trip to this town, from Hobart, very easy. Population 2500.

Name

By Whom Kept

accom.

Phone

Tariff

B&B

Day

Week

Garage

Bush Hotel

Freemasons’ Htl

New Norfolk Htl

Star & Garter Htl

Rockhampton

L.W. Cowburn

J.D. Sullivan

Mrs E.C. Smith

H.L. Smidt

Mrs E.M. Hill

7/-

5/-

12/6

11/-

10/-

9/-

6/-

£4/4/0

£3/0/0

£2/10/0

£1/15/0

Yes

In an article on The Bush Inn, the Australasian Post of 16 February 1950, says: “[The Cellars at the Bush Inn] are now filled with bottles, some empty, some full, some covered with dust and cobwebs.

“Many of the bottles there, are, to Mr Leslie Cowburn, beyond price. There is apricot brandy, Cointreau, Napoleon brandy, peach bitters, Bols gin in the famous stone jars.

“There are, too, two china casks, each mounted on delicately worked brass stands and fitted with miniature taps. From these casks... ‘Nelson’s blood’ (rum) was served to sailors.

“In the bar of the hotel Mr Cowburn still has several bottles of Maraschino, believed to be the only bottles of their type still left in the world. They were bottled in Austria in 1821, and the hand-blown, long0necked bottles still bear the imprint of the Austrian Royal Coat of Arms. He values each bottle at £100, adamantly refuses to sell a drop from any of them...”

In October 1951 the Cowburn family sold the hotel to Mr JJ Riedy, the first time it had changed hands for thirty years.

Upon the death of Mr Cowburn, the Mercury newspaper ran the following obituary on 1 July 1981:

A century linked with hotels in New Norfolk, extending over three generations, was broken with the death at the weekend of Mr Leslie Nicholson Cowburn.

Mr Cowburn, one of a family of eight, was licensee of the historic Bush Inn for 25 years and earned a proud reputation for the impeccable manner in which it was conducted.

He followed his father, Mr Thomas Cowburn, and his brother William as licensees. In the late 1880’s his grandfather was ‘mine-host’ of the day.

At different periods soon after the turn of the century the Cowburn family owned the Star and garter and the New Norfolk Hotel.

...Mr Cowburn claimed a ÒrecordÓ during the depression year of 1930Ñwhen he banked 13/4d (about 30 cents) the total taking for the day.

...A keen racegoer, Mr Cowburn was a member of the Tasmanian Racing Club and various trotting organisations over the years.

Mr Reidy first came to Tasmania in 1931 as a competitor in that years Royal Hobart Regatta. His crew won the Secheron Purse.

Four years later he returned, as the licensee of the Lady Franklin Hotel. After that he managed several hotels before taking over the Kermandie Hotel and the Highfield Hotel in Hobart.

It was while he was at the Kermandie Hotel he started what would be lifelong commitment to the Australian Hotels Association, serving on the committee of management of the (then) United Licensed Victuallers Association of Southern Tasmania.

During his time on that committee he worked at uniting the Northern and Southern divisions of the AHA, and became the first State President when the Tasmanian branch was formed, a position he held for five years until 1964. After that date he went overseas for a time, but returned to the state and continued to represent various branches of the AHA. For his services he was awarded life membership of the Association.

While in New Norfolk he served as president of the New Norfolk Football Club several times, and was elected to the District Council as alderman for five years.

He purchased the Bush Inn in October 1951, the first time the hotel had changed hands in 30 years.

Much had been made of the originality of the building and fittings. Even in the 1950’s, well before what we think of a the conservation and restoration period became popular, the Bush Inn was using its history to its advantage, “All the original building had been preserved¹⁴³, including the entrance hall and cellars. The furniture that Mrs Bridger placed there is still used... The cellars of the Bush Inn are amongst its most interesting features. Once they were used as skittle alleys (probably by the troops who were stationed near by at Governor Arthur’s quarters, Turriff Lodge).”

Mr Reidy sold the Bush Inn in and went into retirement before his death in 1967. He died in a private hospital in Hobart at 67 years of age on November 7, 1967.

When Phipps and Victoria Onslow took over the Bush Inn they began a refurbishment of the bars and fittings.

“Visitors to Austrlaia’s oldest licenced premises, The Bush Inn at New Norfolk, have been commenting on the hospitality and atmosphere for more than 150 years.

“But from the end of this year they will be greeted by a ‘newer’ interior as the old establishment prepares for the tourists of the 1980’s.” said the Mercury on 14 September 1977 in an article describing the internal refurbishment of The Bush Inn.

The article continued, “However the modifications will not be ‘a la laminex.’ The new publican, Phipps Onslow, intends to keep all of the 162 years of atmosphere intact.

“He said part of the structure, built in 1815, was one of the oldest buildings in the State.

“...It was first licences in 1825 and the present alterations are perhaps the most significant.

“..Already the public and club bars have been done up with stage one of the plan.

“Stage two includes a restaurant for about 85 people, a lounge bar which will retain the traditional log fire, a wine cellar, bottle shop, new toilet facilities and a landscaping of the gardens at the back.

Mr Laurie Kean and his wife achieved a lifetime’s ambition this week when they took over the Bush Hotel, New Norfolk.

Mr Kean was the manager of the Claremont RSL Club for the last four years. Before that he worked for 20 years with Motors Pty Lty, working his way through the firm from mechanic to sales and reception, and finally as a supervisor.

The Bush Inn at New Norfolk, and its owners Allan and Kathleen Hanson, did their bit last week towards improving Tasmanias image as a tourist destination. The best advertisement this state can have is a satisfied customer and two of them sat beside me [Mike Bingham] on the 5pm flight to Sydney last Friday night.

They’d spent a week in Tasmania and had experienced a couple of examples of the slip-shod service that some of our operators think is good enough. However, the Bush Inn saved the day with what the couple describes as some of the best value and friendliest budget accommodation they had experienced anywhere.

Their room, like to 20 others in the historic hotel, lacked the private facilities of more modern establishments, but the value, the atmosphere and the friendly reception made up for it. Certainly they were going to tell all their Sydney friends about it.

On February 17 1989 the Bush Inn was officially Classified by the National Trust. The status Classified is the highest, and is given to those buildings regarded as “being essential to the heritage of Australia and which the National Trust would like to see preserved.”¹⁴⁴

The foundations are hand squared [juniper] logs. The overall condition of the building is listed as ‘good’, and has 15 frame DH windows and a hipped CGI (Corrugated Iron) roof.

The cellar floors are sandstone, while floors in the remaining original building are solid blackwood, which have recently been returned to their former glory.

In the National Trust file on the hotel, it is listed as “...a two story brick Georgian hotel with many additions from different periods. Some of these additions are ‘sympathetic’, others are not.”

‘Melba’s in the Bush’ - a new high class restaurant which opened in the Bush Inn, New Norfolk, on Monday [28/9/87], won high praise for its food from the guests, many of whom were from the critical catering industry.

The guest of honour was the Premier, Mr Gray, who complimented the Hanson family for its diversity in running all facets of the Bush Inn.

Kath and Allan Hanson run the historic hostelery, and their son Brett is the chef. Another son, Craig, is an apprentice chef. Daughter Debbie (Mrs Seen) who is running a hand-made truffle business from the hotel with colleague Sue Mann, made the waitresses uniforms. Another daughter, Margaret, who helped hostess the event, also hand-printed the menus.

The restaurant offers an a la carte menu, and takes reservations for lunches and dinners seven days a week. Brett, who has worked at the Hobart, Darwin and Alice Springs Casinos, and other major restaurants in most States will provide a new standard of culinary skill in the town.

The Bush also seems destined to become well known for old fashioned French truffles, and carob chocolates. Mesdames Seen and Mann are taking over the business from Melanie Graudins, a former European.

At the time of writing this history Bill and Val Brown are mine hosts at the Bush Inn Hotel. For more information see "The Hotel Now."