by Mary Wilson
Maidens Hotel
The building and the town of Menindee have a long and colourful history. Discovered
by Thomas Mitchell in 1835, and later visited by Charles Sturt in 1844, Menindee was a
recognised depot for overlanders and settlers. Known then as Laidley’s Ponds,
and later as Menindie, its most famous visitors were the Victorian exploration expedition,
led by Robert O’Hara Burke and William John Wills. On their tragic journey to
the top of Australia, they stopped at this Hotel - then known as Tom Pain’s Pub - in
October 1860.
At that time Menindie consisted of a couple of shacks, this "shanty pub", a
store owned by Capt. Cadell, the Riverboat man, and a well established port facility for
supplies carried along the Darling. Menindie was in the words of an early visitor,
"the authentic last outpost of civilisation", a jumping-off place for the
interior. At the hotel, Burke & Wills assembled and organised their supplies for
their trip into the unknown. A base camp was established at Pamamaroo Creek, 10 kms
above Menindee, from which the secondary party was to follow. Sundry problems,
however meant that they actually lived out most of their 11 week stay at Tom Pain’s
Pub! And as is history now, Burke & Wills were never to see the pub or Menindee
again.
The hotel itself, came into the hands of the Maiden family before 1880, and the licence
was held by that family until 1979 . So many years of public service, handed down
each generation! For these obvious historic and sentimental reasons, it remains
affectionately, ‘Maidens Menindee Hotel’. In 1860 Burke & Wills stayed
in the section of the Hotel which used to contain the card machines, in the old
hotel. The bar section of the Hotel, the Dining Room and Lounges were all original,
with later editions as they were required. The walls were witnesses to real
Australian History.
The roof of the original building was replaced in March/April 1994. The thatched roof was
still attached by cow hide strips and was under the iron on the roof, a true glimpse of
history! The dining room was refurbished and reopened on the 30th April 1994.
It retained its ‘Old World’ atmosphere, with wooden tables and chairs, white
table cloths, and silver on the tables. The bar, lounges and verandahs were
restored and painted along with the front of the hotel. Historical photographs and
memorabilia were displayed within the hotel.
On 23rd April 1999, in the early hours of the morning, a fire severely damaged the main
building of the hotel, destroying the contents and the many years of history which
the historical building contained. The remains of the building were demolished
and the site cleared . The Bar continued to operate in the guest
lounge at the front of the hotel, and a cold beer was assured..
The new hotel was built on the sight incorporating the original front of the hotel and bed
rooms. The building is much bigger and modern but some of the original features have
been incorporated into it. The dining room has similar wooden furniture and similar
silver as before.
The bar was opened on 1st July 2000 by Mrs Flo Maiden, the oldest living
Maiden in Menindee and she pulled the first beer on the day. The hotel was
officially opened on 8th July by Mr Bill Moroney and the same excellent service
continues for local and tourists alike.
Description
Mixed stone and wood & iron buildings. Opened at Menindie by 1853. Rebuilt in
1854 by Thomas Pain – known as Tom Pains Pub. Burnt down in 1999. Rebuilt in 2000.
Licensees
1853 -
Pain’s Hotel
1867 - 70
Christopher Quinn
1870-75
Richard Green
1875 - 1877
George Miller
1879 -
William Maiden
1880 - 1881
Werribee Pyke
1881 - 1882
William Maiden
1882 - 1883
Henry Church
1883 - 1887
William Maiden
1887 - 1891
John H. Gordon
1891 - 1892
George Maiden
1892 - 1895
Robert F. Welcome
1895 - 1907
William Maiden
1907 - 1908
George S. Maiden
1908 - 1912
William E. Maiden
1912 - 1915
Lycurgus Underdown
1915 - 1917
George S. Maiden
1917 - 1974
William E. Maiden
1974 - 1979
James Leslie Maiden
Hotel sold to Frederick (Mick) & Greta Ratcliff (nee Maiden.)
1979 - 1985
Nicholas Dennis Hoban
1985 - 1989
Rex Squire
1989 - 1991
Paul DeSylva
1991 - 1994
Tim Castle
1994 - 1996
Robert Wilson
1996 -1998
Derek Symonds
1998
Shelley O’Brien
You are our 3588 visitor since 12 December 2003.
Last updated on 14 December 2003