THE HOTEL BEATTY 
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Friendly Service, Great Family Atmosphere, Quality Meals, Bed & Breakfast Accommodation, Ideal Location
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Make your way to the tops in a more relaxed mode . . .
Sample the old world charm of the Hotel Beatty, situated in the southern foothills of the World Heritage Listed Barrington Tops National Park . Enjoy the natural beauty of the district whilst indulging in the Beatty's quality food and friendly service or relaxing in the comfortable, well priced accommodation. The Hotel Beatty is perfectly situated as a base for touring the spectacular Barrington Tops, sampling award-winning local wines and produce or taking in the fascinating history of the local area. The village of East Gresford (approx. 190km north of Sydney or 45 minutes from the northern end of the F3 freeway) is within easy reach of Maitland, Singleton and Dungog as well as Upper and Lower Hunter vineyards. Newcastle Airport, the city of Newcastle, Port Stephens and Lake Macquarie are only around an hour's drive away. |
What's On at The Beatty?
Check the Gresford News or the posters at the pub for our monthly selection of live music! There's always a live band following the Gresford Billycart Derby on Easter Saturday and our annual Burr Cutters Ball each June is a night not to be missed! Of course, live music each New Year's Eve keeps the old joint jumping!
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Menu includes pub favourites, family meals & seasonal specials. Dine In or Take Away Open 6 days - Wednesday to Monday Lunch 12-3pm Dinner 6-9pm Bar Snacks for happy hour Thursdays 6-7pm
Bookings recommended for weekend dining on 4938 9451.
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| Tariffs
We have a variety of rooms for your selection including a family room (cot available), singles and doubles. All offer clean, comfortable, basic accommodation featuring period furnishings and beautiful views of East Gresford's heritage style main street and hinterland from the large, wrap around balcony. There are shared ladies and gents bathroom facilities and a communal sunroom provides a comfortable spot to read or relax. Rates for all rooms are $30 per person per night including a continental breakfast in the dining room. Children $15. Room inspections are welcomed. Bookings are recommended during peak periods.
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| A Fire, A Pact & Five Generations It is hard to believe that a pub fire could have a big bearing on the future of a town. The fire that destroyed Hancock's Gresford Hotel c.1922 at the crossroads in Gresford changed the settlement's future completely when thirsty travellers encouraged East Gresford 's development as it then had the only local hotel.
The Junction Inn Fourth generation owner Helen Richardson traces the family's ownership back to John Beatty's first recorded hotel license at The Half Way House Hotel Vacy in 1865. He settled in at East Gresford's Junction Inn in 1872. This simple timber building was in the car park of the present hotel. John Beatty retained this license until 1900 when his son John Alexander Beatty Jnr moved into the present hotel, then named The Victoria. It had been built on spec by the Boydell family and was first licensed in 1901. John Alexander Beatty Jnr remained licensee until 1909 when he moved to the Grand Central Hotel (behind Maitland Post Office) until 1911. In 1912, he returned to the Victoria Hotel and eventually bought the freehold from the Boydells. Two years later, in 1914, his father John Beatty died. As John Alexander Beatty Jnr only had two daughters, Elvenice Venie Mary Helen and Beatrice Veronica May, he preserved his family name by changing the hotel's name to Beatty's Hotel. The intriguing reason why only one hotel remained within the two townships is because of a secret pact between John J Hancock & John Alexander Beatty Jnr. Mr Hancock had two sisters who were interested in rebuilding the Gresford Hotel but John Hancock had lost interest in the hotel industry. It's whispered that Beatty & Hancock met in secrecy on the border of West & East Gresford due to rivalry between the two towns (some say that the rivalry was based on religion). The agreement was that if Beatty would buy all the bricks from Hancock's Gresford Hotel then John Hancock would talk his sisters out of rebuilding the hotel. Having all these extra bricks, John Alexander Beatty Jnr could only think of installing brick paths to the toilets at the back of the present hotel yard. John Alexander Beatty Jnr died in 1931. His eldest daughter Venie Beatty (later Mrs Alf Richardson), a respected character quite capable of dealing with the most difficult of patrons, remained in charge at the hotel from the 1930s, through the Second World War when a local army camp ensured exciting times and continued almost up to her death in 1983 at the age of 83. Venie often told stories of the early days. Making a trip to Sydney meant catching the Fry Brothers' stage coach to Paterson. From there, one would board light river craft for the trip to Morpeth, where passengers would change again to a river steamer for the trip to Newcastle. At Newcastle, there would be another change to an ocean steamer to complete the journey. What now takes 2½ hours was, back then, a four day ordeal. Venie also told the story of John Beatty locking his wife and the children in the Hotel cellars as a precaution when bushrangers were in the area; not an uncommon occurrence at the time! In 1979, refurbishment of the hotel commenced. An entertainment area and commercial kitchen were added. Many locals recall enjoying the facilities on numerous occasions during the early 80s. The Beatty was regarded as one of the best music venues in the Hunter Valley with patrons regularly journeying from Newcastle, Singleton, Maitland and Dungog to enjoy the party atmosphere. On one occasion, 202 people crowded into the (a then much smaller) pub and partied well into the night enjoying one of the top live bands regularly in attendance. After leasing the hotel for approximately ten years, the family returned in 1997 to carry out further renovations. The bistro area was extended onto the former deck and a pleasant, open verandah was constructed to take full advantage of the rural views. The Beatty has now reinvented itself as a family hotel, social meeting place and a centre for those touring the district. The emphasis is on providing quality food, pleasant accommodation and friendly country service. Through the generations, the local community has really moulded the hotel. Local characters, in all their glorious variety, and local employees have built the identity and great atmosphere of The Beatty. Looking back on her mother as a 78-year-old, Helen Richardson described the concern of staff and patrons when a nasty bikie gang paid an unwelcome visit to the hotel. Leather-clad louts began fighting and swearing loudly. Venie quickly spotted the leader and made known, with plenty of finger pointing, what her expectations of patrons were. After initial stunned shock, the bikies settled and enjoyed a few quiet drinks before peacefully leaving town. The Beatty has always been full of characters! Today, new generations of the family continue to run The Beatty. They are proudly part of Gresford's history and aim to continue being a part of this fine community for many years to come. |
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The Gresford District
The Gresford district is a hidden gem off the beaten tourist tracks. Featuring superb local vineyards and wineries, historic sites, the picturesque Paterson and Allyn Rivers, easy access to the Barrington Tops National Park and Lostock Dam, specialty shops, organic and specialty produce, sporting facilities and wonderful valley views, the area is ideal for weekend drives, high mountain adventures and short breaks from the hustle and bustle. Of course, people have lived in these rich valleys for thousands of years. Prior to European settlement, the Gringai people of the Wanaruah nation lived in the area. Traditionally, the Gringai people spent the winters in the lush valleys and migrated into the mountain hunting grounds during summer. Cedar cutters followed Aboriginal trails in search of the highly sought after red cedar around 1812, well before the area was officially opened up to the first settlers in 1825. Many early settlers were Welsh and their heritage is reflected in the district's place names and also in the fascinating history of the St Mary-on-Allyn church at Allynbrook. Numerous historic sites and interesting stories provide the present day visitor with an insight into the early days of settlement. You can discover some local history elsewhere on this site and in locally available tourist information. A particular reminder of our early heritage and culture was recognised at the Hotel Beatty in September 2002 when Gresford Community Council member Merv Hughes from Gresford in Wales co-signed a Sister Village Agreement with The Hon John Price, MP, as representative of the local community. The agreement recognises the special bond that has existed since those early days in the 19th century and ensures that visitors from each community will be warmly received in the other. Soon after the first settlements, wine emerged as an important local product when Camyr Allyn's John Boydell and others pioneered the Australian wine industry with some of the colony's very first vine plantings. Dr Henry Lindeman, of Cawarra, brought new levels of professionalism to the industry in the 1840s and Gresford wines were well-known in Australia and overseas. Dr Lindeman is buried at St Anne's, Gresford and his family's heritage is reflected in the beautiful stained glass windows of St Anne's church. The Gresford district also shares historical links with some great Australian poets. Henry Lawson's former teacher John Kevin became a school inspector and a published poet in his own right. Earlier, Mr Kevin had spotted young Henry's talents. He urged Henry's mother to keep encouraging Henry's writing; a move that did not please the young man. As a result, Henry was not complementary towards Mr Kevin when he wrote The Old Bark School. John Kevin also initiated the provision of school libraries in NSW. Mr Kevin died at Bird's Wine Shop in Allynbrook following an appendicitis attack during an overnight stay on an inspection tour. He is buried at East Gresford 's Catholic cemetery. His grave features an impressive monument built with funds raised from lowly paid local teachers and shows the high regard in which he was held. Dorothea Mackellar, a teenage girl when her family purchased a property at Torryburn, just south of East Gresford. Unfortunately, the family purchased the property as one of the worst droughts in the history of white settlement hit the area. After some good rains one evening, Dorothea sat on the front verandah writing a letter to a friend in England. Each time she looked up, a green veil thickened across the paddock in front of her. This inspired part of her classic A Sunburnt Country on the front verandah of what is now Torryburn Stud. Bushrangers including the well regarded Captain Thunderbolt, the Jewboy Gang and the Governor brothers, inspirations for The Chant of Jimmy Blacksmith, operated extensively in the local area with Thunderbolt having strong ties to Tocal Homestead, near Paterson . Today, Gresford is a diverse, peaceful community that gains inspiration from its past as it moves into the new millennium. The local wine industry is again flourishing, many local farmers are looking towards niche products and organic farming in an increasing competitive market and the local community is proud of its history. |
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Supporting Our Community The Beatty is proud to support a wide range of sports teams & special community events. Our community is very special and we aim to help keep it that way! top of page |
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Hotel Beatty - Ph 02 4938 9451 |
