With tomorrow being Australia Day, I thought it was appropriate that I should stumble upon this item on the Australian Hotel for Jill: A Tour to the South.....Wagga Wagga Town and Country Journal, 6 July 1872. The Australian Hotel is a fine building, having 120 feet frontage to Fitzwilliam street. It was erected on an acre and a half of land. The building contains 55 rooms, and includes several private suites of apartments, elegantly furnished, for gentlemen and families, parlours, dining rooms, coffee, reading and smoking rooms, and billiards room. The latter is fitted up with one of Thurston's best tables. A balcony the whole length of the building in the front commands a splendid view of the town and the Murrumbidgee, and by reason of its being the highest site in the street is calculated to afford a refuge for those lower down in times of flood. At the rear of the hotel are the kitchens, laundry, and servants' apartments - another building of brick. The stables are in keeping with the establishment, and are under the charge of "Jim" with pleasure, I say it, one of the best grooms and ostlers in the colony. The stables can on a push give accommodation to 50 horses. They are of brick and wood. The coach-house, harness-rooms, &c., adjoin the stables. From personal experience it may fairly be said, in regard to table accommodation, wines and spirits, and general management of the Australian, that it can hold its own in the colony. Mr Henry Moxham is the proprietor and host. [Great sketch of the hotel accompanies the article] Well Jill if you won't now provide us with free drinks at your palatial place (just how many rooms does your family need?), will you at least offer us a place to stay should we be swept out of our homes by floodwaters??? Rusheen.