Kandos Hotel to celebrate centenary

In the subdivision plan it was strategically located on a double corner block, across from the station, at the entrance to town and overlooking a reserve.

If the directors of the cement company had their way it would be ‘the only one’, for they had put a caveat on every block of land in their private village to prevent the erection of another hotel. 

It wasn’t just ‘good luck’ that the double corner block sold at auction for a record price. Conditions of sale (ten per cent on the fall of the hammer and the balance on transfer) ensured that only the rich could bid. Two expected combatants were NSW brewers, Resch’s and Tooth’s, both with large stables of city and country pubs.

However, a surprise bidder at the auction was Hunter White, local pastoralist, stock breeder and millionaire.

The Mudgee Guardian reported the contest: “The battle royal continued till £2,700 was reached when the city representative (of a big city brewery) withdrew leaving Mr White victorious”. Within a month White had sold the land to Tooth and Co and soon after he accepted a seat as director of the cement company. Well, well! Win-win.

Construction began almost immediately. Architects visited from Sydney, Dan Howard former Cessnock publican became licensee, council approved plans, tenders were called, foundations laid and a brick kiln turned out bricks.

Two months after employees produced the first cement for the company they were able to taste their first cold pint of lager in the bar of the Kandos Hotel (22nd September 1916). 

The town itself was no more than scrub at this time with a few scattered cottages, temporary stores and unformed roads.

The hotel though was impressive, declared one of the finest hotels outside Sydney, elaborately furnished and “a great boon to the travelling public”. Even so it was strained to “utmost capacity” and sixteen rooms were added eight months later. The combined land, building and furnishings had cost £11,000. 

Tooth and Co continued to invest in the hotel, connecting it to the company’s electricity in 1920, which was extended to outside premises in 1928, (thus bedrooms, garage, lavatories and yards were all electrified). In the same year the hotel was linked to the company’s pipeline, to provide running water to every room.

We can see from an old photo, the landmark building sitting squarely on a prominent corner. Its two storey brick façade speaks of permanence, prosperity and respectability. Its roofline of pointed pediments and square columns displays proud signage.

Long verandahs, where guests could inspect the comings and goings of the town, are sheltered beneath galvanised iron awnings and protected by cast iron lace railings and retractable blinds.

The awnings and posts were thought a hazard in the increasingly motorised town. Sometime in the 1960s verandahs and awnings were removed, the roofline flattened, a floating awning attached and Kandos Hotel was transformed into a modern, streamlined building ready to make its place in a post-war booming country.

This was the era when sale of alcohol was banned after 6pm, pubs were closed on Sundays, bottled alcohol could only be purchased from a hotel, the public bar was strictly men’s domain and unions ruled, especially in Kandos. It was also the era of the sly grog shop, the binge-inducing six o’clock swill and illegal SP betting.

While today many court appearances are to do with driving offences, in those days it was more to do with alcohol eg being drunk and disorderly, fighting in a public street, drinking on licensed premises after hours, behaving in an offensive manner. The publican had his/her hands full running the pub well, regulating rowdy drinkers, and maintaining licensing laws.

Just as the publican was an axis of the pub so the pub was an axis of the town. Kandos Hotel billeted the first workers, fed and accommodated visiting directors, travellers, salesmen and professionals (eg opticians and solicitors). It was a function centre for weddings and dinners.

A place where committees met, visitors got information and locals conducted business. Auctions were held there; on Anzac Day two-up was played there; and messages were left there. Local sporting clubs planned their games and celebrated there. And publicans sponsored them.

Kandos Hotel was meant to be a monopoly but workers and residents disagreed. The struggle to establish other licensed premises began in 1916 with the sale of a proposed hotel site on the corner of Lloyd Avenue and Ilford Road. In 1918, against vigorous opposition, a wine licence was granted. Applications for hotel licenses however were more strongly opposed and defeated in 1919 and 1923. In 1926, after a final forceful fight, which involved a further appeal in Mudgee court, William Morgan was granted a license for the Railway Hotel.

Perhaps the early directors would be pleased to learn that Kandos Hotel, a century later, is the only licensed hotel in town.

Kandos Hotel will celebrate its centenary on Saturday 24 September 7.30-11.30pm with a band. All welcome.