83 High Street, Oatlands (see below) Google Maps
1839-53 Samuel Page, Oatlands Hotel, Oatlands
1853-57 Nicholas Augustus Woods, Oatlands Hotel, Oatlands
1858-66 Joseph McEwan, Oatlands Hotel, Oatlands
1867-73 Edward Currie, Oatlands Hotel, Oatlands
1873-79 George Rodda, Oatlands Hotel, Oatlands
1880
1881-84 T. Hogan, Oatlands Hotel, Oatlands
1884-88 John Smith, Oatlands Hotel, Oatlands
1889-90 George Munnings, Oatlands Hotel, Oatlands
1890-93 Joseph Law, Oatlands Hotel, Oatlands
1893-99 James Burrill, the younger, Oatlands Hotel, Oatlands
1899 Thomas Salmon, Oatlands Hotel, Oatlands
1899-00 Thomas Alfred Burrill, Oatlands Hotel, Oatlands
1900 Charles F. Cooley, Oatlands Hotel, Oatlands
83 HIGH STREET
Now the site of a modern police station, this was once the Oatlands Hotel, a substantial sandstone hotel which was very similar to the Midland Hotel on the opposite side of the road.
The Oatlands Hotel was run by Samuel Page, best known for his coaching service between Hobart and Launceston.
Welcome to Oatlands: Everything you’ll need to know to enjoy your visit (PDF)
OATLANDS.
An inquest was held on Tuesday at the Oatlands Hotel, before John Whitefoord, Esq., coroner, and a jury of seven, upon view of the body of John Davidson. It appeared that the deceased, who had been employed for some time by Mr. Woods of the Oatlands Hotel, as brewer and gardener, was seen on Saturday night late leaving the inn, for the purpose of returning to his own house, a distance of little more than two hundred yards down the street; he was seen at his own door at 11 p.m. trying to obtain an entrance, which he was unable to do, having lost the key on his way home. The following morning suspicion was excited by his not appear-ing at his ordinary place of work, and search by the police was made without effect until this morning, when the body of the unhappy man was found in a well on the premises of Mr, Woods, close to the brew-house door. He was in the habit of carrying the key of the brew-house about him, as it also opened the door of his private house, and from the circumstance of the key being found in the street the following morning, it was concluded he must have returned to Mr. Woods premises, imagining he had left the key in the brew-house door, in endeavouring to find which, in a heavy shower of snow, he by some chance (being rather the worse of drink), accidentally fell into the well and was suffocated, and the jury returned a verdict of accidental death. The deceased possessed many good qualities, and was respected by all who were acquainted with him, having been a resident of the colony for a number of years.
Courie, 28 September 1854
The cook and ostler of Mr. Woods, of the Oatlands hotel, are under examination by the police authorities, the one for stealing, and the other for receiving a quantity of cooked meat, the, property of their master.
The Courier, 27 December 1854
Oatlands Hotel;
THE UNDERSIGNED begs leave to acquaint his friends and the Public that he has obtained a transfer of the licence from the house lately occupied by him, to those commodious and extensive premises known as the Oatlands Hotel, where every accommodation can be afforded to any persons calling at the Establishment, and where they can have the comfort of experienced and attentive servants.
J. Mc E. having increased his stock of choice wines and spirits, and having thoroughly repaired the premises, respectfully requests a continuance of that patronage which was so liberally bestowed upon him in the house he has just left
Joseph Mc Ewan.
Hobart Town Daily Mercury, 8 January 1858
OATLANDS HOTEL TO LET. – This Hotel, containing thirty rooms, with separate Tap, large Store, Granary, Ac, with, good stabling for thirty horses, and a Brewery in working order on the premises. The’ day and night mail remain a time for refreshments and change horses, will be let in consequence of the ill-health of the present proprietor.. For particulars apply to S. PAGE, Esq., New Town. or JOSEPH M’EWAN, Oatlands
The Mercury, 10 February 1866
BURGLARY.
Min Brooks and William Bryan wore charged with having, on the 7th October last, broken into a building of one George Rodda, and then and there feloniously stolen thirty yards of sheeting, thirty yards of calico, trousers, and other articles, being the goods and chattels of one Thomas Shirley.
Prisoners wore undefended,
George Rodda, landlord of the Oatlands Hotel, Oatlands, deposed that on the date of the 7th October last, the prisoner Brooks was in his employ. Mr. Thomas Shirley rented a store at that time in the vicinity of the hotel from witness.
[continued]
The Mercury, 4 December 1874
Death of an old Colonist.— About midnight on Saturday evening, died Samuel Page, Esq., J.P , after a rather protracted and painful, illness, Among the successful colonists Tasmania can boast the deceased gentleman was one of the most , conspicuous. So far back as November, 1823, he landed upon our shores, and along with other members of his family, joined his father, a military settler nt Bagdad. Some time after his arrival a grant of land was given to the parent Page at Lemon Springs, a property which still remains in tho .possession of the family. Having married, he established himself in business in this city, from which he removed to Oatlands,. where for some years he conducted the business of a hotel keeper. He prospered, and was enabled to purchase an allotment on the township, upon which he erected tho Oatlands Hotel, which he conducted for a considerable period, and with great advantage to himself as well as to the district. His conches monopolised, it might be said, the passenger traffic of the main line of road between Hobart Town and’ Launceston. Up to the opening of the railway he was contractor for carrying the mails, and always performed the service in a manner which would have reflected credit upon ” coaching” when in its palmiest days in England. After an industrious and a prospering career of 55 years, its fruits must be expected to have brought him a suitable recompense; and we find that the deceased gentleman has been the purchaser of some of trio most valuable estates in the oolong. In the list there appears the estates of Northumbria, Trefusis, Eastern Marshes, Kelvin Grove, Ansty Barton, Ellenthorpe Hall, and a great number of other freeholds indifferent parts of the colony. The deceased had just entered upon his 99th year, and has left a widow, four sons, and six daughters. The remains will be removed to Oatlands this day, and on tomorrow tho funeral will move to St. Peter’s Churchyard, at 12 o’clock.
The Tribune, 2 April 1878
Oatlands Municipal Council:
An application from Mr. Hogan, of the Oatlands Hotel, requesting the approval of the council to a music and dancing license being granted to him for a room adjoining the hotel, was entertained, and the fee fixed at 10s.
The Mercury, 8 November 1882
Transfer from John Smith to George Munnings, 1889
TO LET.–Oatlands Hotel, with Tenements’ thereon. Apply to present tenant, G. Munnings, Oatlands.
The Mercury, 25 June 1890
There have been many changes lately on the township. Messrs. Mackay and Dalwood gave up the blacksmith business, and the owner, our old friend Mr Hogan, had to come down and resume charge. Mr Jos. Law, took over .the Oatlands Hotel, vice Mr.Munnings, reverted to farming. The vacancy in the Midland Hotel has been filled by a Mr Huxtable from Hobart, and Mr Thos. Jones has taken charge of the Kentish Hotel, his business as butcher, etc., being now carried on by Mr T. G. Brown.
The Colonist, 20 September 1890
OATLANDS LICENSING DISTRICT.
I HEREBY GIVE NOTICE that the following Application for a Justices’ Certificate, approving of the Transfer of existing Licenses, has been received by me:- .
James Burrill, jun., from Ferdinand Bailey, in respect of Bailey’s Hotel, Oatlands.
Thomas Salmon, from James Burrill, jun., in respect of the Oatlands Hotel, Oatlands.
Dated at the Town-hall, Oatlands, this6th day of April, 1899.
G. BURBURY,
Clerk of Petty Sessions.
The Mercury, 10 April 1899