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The Hornsby Hotel - Waitara Hotel - The Blue Gum
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DetailsJohn Tebbett was the first proprietor of the Hornsby Junction Hotel, at Waitara, this is the Hornsby district’s oldest pub.
The original building was situated on a large block of land and had a solid stone foundation, with an iron roof. Tebbett had the hotel built by James Whiteman of Parramatta, using bricks made from his own clay-pits. Once completed it was a high-quality building which was open for trade by October 1884.
The original Hotel building had thirteen rooms in total. On the ground floor was a public bar fitted with every possible convenience available, parlour, smoking room, dining room, bedroom, kitchen, laundry and storeroom. Upstairs were five bedrooms and a private sitting room. There was also a large stable out back for hotel guests to leave their horses. A few years after opening a wrap around veranda was added to the first floor.
Built on the railway line, that was being constructed at the time the pub opened, it offered professionals accommodation options and a drinking opportunity for the railway workers. Hornsby Railway Station and the North Shore Railway opened in 1886.
1895, the same year Waitara Railway Station was opened, Tebbett advertised the hotel for sale or lease in the Daily Telegraph, citing that the hotel was in the centre of the district and one minute from Waitara platform.
Around 1900 the hotel changed its name to Waitara Hotel to reflect the name of the new suburb and to clearly distinguish it from the Hornsby Railway Hotel.
In the 1950s there was a string of serious bad luck for the licensees and big changes for the Hotel. In 1930 Frederick Farmer (Snr) purchased and ran the Hotel. He ran the Hotel well for a long time but in 1952, due to ill health, he handed over the license to his son FJ Farmer (Jnr) who unfortunately died in October 1952, before he could take over. Farmer Snr died himself in August 1954 and his wife took over until she died in August 1959. During this period the Hotel was rebuilt in 1955, whilst a temporary bar set up to serve patrons.
The new building opened and on 6th June 1956 and the hotel changed its name to the Blue Gum Hotel.
It has been said that the Hotel building burnt down and was rebuilt twice however, I can find no evidence the Hotel burnt down and the rebuild in the 1950s was due to an upgrade.
In the 1960s the residential area around the Blue Gum developed which provided more regular patrons but at the same time caused more late night noise issues for the locals. In 1965 the drive through bottle shop was constructed.
From the late 1970s through the 1980s some excellent live music was hosted by the Blue Gum. The restaurant area introduced a popular grill your own steak option.
Over the years the Blue Gum has supported various local sports organizations, in particular the Northern District Cricket Club (NDs). NDs play in the Sydney Premier Grade Cricket Competition, with their home games held at the nearby Waitara Oval (aka Mark Taylor Oval).
CreatorNathan TilburyKeywordsWaitaraBlue Gum Hotel
DetailsJohn Tebbett was the first proprietor of the Hornsby Junction Hotel, at Waitara, this is the Hornsby district’s oldest pub. The original building was situated on a large block of land and had a solid stone foundation, with an iron roof. Tebbett had the hotel built by James Whiteman of Parramatta, using bricks made from his own clay-pits. Once completed it was a high-quality building which was open for trade by October 1884.
The original Hotel building had thirteen rooms in total. On the ground floor was a public bar fitted with every possible convenience available, parlour, smoking room, dining room, bedroom, kitchen, laundry and storeroom. Upstairs were five bedrooms and a private sitting room. There was also a large stable out back for hotel guests to leave their horses. A few years after opening a wrap around veranda was added to the first floor.
Built on the railway line, that was being constructed at the time the pub opened, it offered professionals accommodation options and a drinking opportunity for the railway workers. Hornsby Railway Station and the North Shore Railway opened in 1886.
1895, the same year Waitara Railway Station was opened, Tebbett advertised the hotel for sale or lease in the Daily Telegraph, citing that the hotel was in the centre of the district and one minute from Waitara platform.
Around 1900 the hotel changed its name to Waitara Hotel to reflect the name of the new suburb and to clearly distinguish it from the Hornsby Railway Hotel.
In the 1950s there was a string of serious bad luck for the licensees and big changes for the Hotel. In 1930 Frederick Farmer (Snr) purchased and ran the Hotel. He ran the Hotel well for a long time but in 1952, due to ill health, he handed over the license to his son FJ Farmer (Jnr) who unfortunately died in October 1952, before he could take over. Farmer Snr died himself in August 1954 and his wife took over until she died in August 1959. During this period the Hotel was rebuilt in 1955, whilst a temporary bar set up to serve patrons.
The new building opened and on 6th June 1956 and the hotel changed its name to the Blue Gum Hotel.
It has been said that the Hotel building burnt down and was rebuilt twice however, I can find no evidence the Hotel burnt down and the rebuild in the 1950s was due to an upgrade.
In the 1960s the residential area around the Blue Gum developed which provided more regular patrons but at the same time caused more late night noise issues for the locals. In 1965 the drive through bottle shop was constructed.
From the late 1970s through the 1980s some excellent live music was hosted by the Blue Gum. The restaurant area introduced a popular grill your own steak option.
Over the years the Blue Gum has supported various local sports organizations, in particular the Northern District Cricket Club (NDs). NDs play in the Sydney Premier Grade Cricket Competition, with their home games held at the nearby Waitara Oval (aka Mark Taylor Oval).
CreatorNathan TilburyKeywordsWaitaraBlue Gum HotelClick on the image to add
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Nathan Tilbury, The Hornsby Hotel - Waitara Hotel - The Blue Gum. Hornsby Shire, accessed 29/03/2026, https://hornsbyshire.recollect.net.au/nodes/view/5665