History of Inverleigh Enterprises

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The Hotels

Lawson's Hotel

Lawson's Inn Lawson's Inn was the first building in the town, after the forge. It was opened by William Lawson, a former blacksmith with the Derwent Company. This inn was operating in February 1843 but. the licence was not granted until later. The Horseshoe Inn was offered for sale with the smithy, livery stable and surrounding land and sheds in January 1854, according to Geelong Advertiser 25th January 1854 page 5. The Cobb and Co. Hotel Some time during the late 1850's or early 1860's W. Hewitt built this hotel to take the place of the rather primitive timber and brick Horseshoe Inn. Hewitt may have been the purchaser in 1854. The hotel was never named , and took the name of each licensee.

Lawson's Hotel - click to enlarge and view other images

During the coaching days, the mail coaches changed their horses at Inverleigh. Cobb and Co maintained a large stable at the rear of the building for their horses. The hotel was de- licensed and the building sold to Arthur Faulkner in February 1929 for one hundred and fifty pounds. The licence went to Airey's Inlet in December 1927. A room upstairs was used as a court room. The Magistrate would take a day to get to Inverleigh, work a day and then return to Geelong the following day. A wing containing staff quarters, bathroom kitchen and stables has now been demolished. The remaining 14 room residence now owned by Klaus and Jenny Zimmer has been classified 'D' by the National Trust.

This hotel, situated near the bridge, and built of bluestone, would have been built after the bridge works of the 1850's on the new road. Nothing is known of its origins except that, it has been serving the public since the 1860's. Like the older hotel it has never had a permanent name.

Inverleigh Hotel - click to enlarge and view other pictures

Accurate information regarding owners and publicans has not been forth- coming for the years between 1910 and 1957, however, the following are remembered as being publicans, but no dates are available.

A doctor visits the town once a week and has done for many years. At present we have Dr. Flett from Geelong who combines with a service provided by the Winchelsea Hospital. The earliest doctors were resident in the town, the last being Dr.Wilders in the 1880's. Later they came weekly from Geelong to practice in a room in The Inverleigh Hotel. Best remembered of these would be Dr- McDonald. For some years this service was non existent until a room in Miss Alderson's house in Dundas St.. was rented for the purpose. Later a room at the hall was made available and is still used by the doctor and the Infant Welfare Sister. who visits fortnightly on a Wednesday. Residents have had outstanding service from D.A.Tymms. Dr.F.X.Connell. Dr.Cameron and others. A District Nurse is also available for home visits.

Orchards

Charles Fuller established the first orchard in the district in the 1850's. From that time on, many small farmers divided their time between dairying and fruit production. Enormous quantities of fruit were sold to Geelong and Melbourne fruit companies. In the days before the Ballarat railway, the fruit was carted to Geelong by horse and dray, subsequently it was transported to Bannockburn and finally could be consigned direct to Melbourne from Inverleigh.

The fruit companies included; Rosella, White Crow, and A.J.C. Apricots plums, peaches end apples ripened in the hot summer sun. Finally Brown Spot destroyed the stone fruit industry and it became un-economic to spray and prune large orchards for small returns.

List of Families who owned Orchards

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