At the beginning of March,1861 Main Street, Lambing Flat, boasted at least five substantial hotels. At what would become the north west corner of the intersection of Main and Burrowa Streets was Francis Goddard’s Commercial Hotel.
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Further along in the middle of what now is Short Street, stood Joshua Beaton’s Cricketer’s Arms. On the opposite side of Main Street, behind where the S&C Club is now, was the Lambing Flat Hotel run by George Douglass.
John Vicq at various times had two public houses on the west side of the street. He was the first licensee of the Digger Arms Hotel, which backed onto Burrangong Creek, half way between Cloete and Marina Streets.
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Stores in Main Street at this time were The Australian Store, run by Henry Greig, The Burrangong Store run by Edward Freeman, The Tuena Stores run by H. Chard and William Bigg’s General Store which was later named the Young Store.
Early in March Vicq transferred his licence for the Diggers Arms to Barney Phillips and obtained a new license for the Empire Hotel ,which he was building.
The following new licences were issued; Robert Hayes, Australian Arms, Spring Creek; John O’Hara, Digger’s Arms, Spring Creek; Joshua Beaton, Cricketers, Lambing Flat; Mathew Macnamara, Diggers Arms, Spring Creek; Henry Kofahl, Star Hotel, Stoney Creek; John Hannan, San Francisco Hotel, Stoney Creek; William Saunders, Empire Hotel, Stoney Creek; Francis Goddard, Commercial hotel, Lambing Flat; Charles Quail, Globe Hotel, Stoney Creek; William Metcalf, Sydney Hotel, Spring Creek.
While all this activity involving construction and licensing was going on the first of the anti-Chinese riots were taking place. Troops had been sent from Sydney to maintain order and the Premier of New South Wales had paid the town a visit.
During March the military had constructed a blockhouse at the Camp and the Government surveyors had commenced surveying the town.
The Government surveyor, P. F. Adams, on his arrival immediately commenced the preliminary survey of the town and it was reported that he had surveyed 80 allotments. It had been suggested that the new town would be named Albert Town. Many fine buildings were being constructed and the town was beginning to take on a permanent appearance.
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The Oriental Bank Corporation commenced building spacious premises to conduct their business from, and the Commercial Banking Company of Sydney opened premises in Burrowa street. Then the Bank of New South Wales announced it was opening a branch at Lambing Flat.
Rev. Mr. Martin, Wesleyan minister held Divine Service at the Camp and Rev. Father Murphy said Mass at Terrence McGurren’s store.
On Sunday morning 31 March Father Murphy again celebrated Mass, this time in a temporary building adjacent to the camp. The Catholics of Lambing Flat announced that they were hopeing to put up a permanent chapel. On the same day Mr. Griffiths of the Congregational Church conducted Divine Service in the open air, behind the Great Eastern Hotel.(to be continued).
Historian Brian James contributes his column to the Young Witness each week on behalf of the Young Historical Society Inc.
