Hi Bill, Thanks for the reminder. I have checked NRS 343 (the relevant inquest record) which is digitised on Ancestry and the only reference I get to the hotel is an inquest (death) held there in 1896. So if it was a fire it probably wasn't a suspicious one. Although I don't trust Ancestry's index/search engine so if I had a closer date I would browse the images to be sure. I didn't think Gow's indexes covered Newcastle but there are the odd references to Newcastle within their indexes. I did a Google search for various terms within their website but didn't find anything. It's funny, I keep thinking about an article I saw for an electrical storm at Beaumont Street, Hamilton (where the hotel was). I'd laugh if in the end the fire was started by lightning. The article doesn't give the impression there were any fires though - quite the opposite. The reporter has an entertaining style... "Mass Hysteria" Cairns Post 21 Nov 1938 pg 7 http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/42147178 Have a good weekend. Deb -----Original Message----- From: Bill Sent: Friday, April 01, 2011 11:02 AM To: aus-nsw-hunter-valley@rootsweb.com Subject: Re: [HV] Sydney Junction Hotel, Hamilton (Newcastle) - fire? Dear Deb, If the hotel was badly damaged, it is highly probable that there was an Inquest into the cause of the fire. Inquests for that period I think are microfilmed, and possibly part of the Archives Resources Kit at many libraries or family histories society. I wonder if it is mentioned in the index of Rod and Wendy GOW. Regards, Bill

Just to clarify my last message, it is the inquest REGISTER which is digitised. Didn't want to mislead anyone... Deb -----Original Message----- From: Deb Sent: Friday, April 01, 2011 1:55 PM To: aus-nsw-hunter-valley@rootsweb.com Subject: Re: [HV] Sydney Junction Hotel,Hamilton (Newcastle) - fire? inquest? I have checked NRS 343 (the relevant inquest record) which is digitised on Ancestry ..........

Does anyone know who was the owner of the hotel when the fire is thought to have happened. Must be the owner-not the licensee. About 100 years ago, Castlemaine Perkins had a brewery in Newcastle and owned many hotels there. If the Sydney Junction was one of them, you may find reference to the fire in the Castlemaine Perkins archives. Benny. P/S. Was the Sydney Junction near Sidebottoms Hotel ?.

Hi Benny, With regard to owners I have a reference to "Messrs Toohey's Limited" inviting tenders for additions in 1921, then another ref when it was sold 1929 (name mentioned is Weller & Co - who, from other newspaper refs, I believe were the agents). So don't know for the late 1930s yet (except the below possibility). Sydney Junction Hotel was "Sidebottoms Hotel". Off list last week another lister who used to go there tipped me off: "referred to as "Sidies", after SIDEBOTTOM who had the hotel at one stage" So I did do some searching around that name. SIDEBOTTOMs are listed as hotel keeper & manager of the hotel on the electoral roll from at least 1937 to 1943. It is possible that they owned it. There is a lot of info on the web re the families they are descended from. Thanks for your input. Deb. -----Original Message----- From: Greg Ball Sent: Friday, April 01, 2011 3:06 PM To: aus-nsw-hunter-valley@rootsweb.com Subject: Re: [HV] Sydney Junction Hotel,Hamilton (Newcastle) - fire? inquest? Does anyone know who was the owner of the hotel when the fire is thought to have happened. .... <snipped> Benny. P/S. Was the Sydney Junction near Sidebottoms Hotel ?.

Does any one know if there are Pioneer books for the following area, and could do a look up for me ,thanks carole Port Macquarie area Wingham area. Inverell area. Thanks carole

Hi Carole, I will be at the Port Macquarie library during the week so will do a look up for you. Marje Does any one know if there are Pioneer books for the following area, and could do a look up for me ,thanks carole Port Macquarie area ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to AUS-NSW-HUNTER-VALLEY-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 9.0.894 / Virus Database: 271.1.1/3545 - Release Date: 04/02/11 04:36:00