Whilst Gympie had its fair share of hotels, something not so well-known is the number of hotels which existed in Kilkivan. It was not long after the gold rush in 1868 that several pubs started to pop up in Kilkivan. Read on to learn more about the interesting history of hotels in the Kilkivan area.

Photograph source: Gympie Regional Libraries photograph collection.

The Federal Hotel- 19 Bligh St

In 1902, a man by the name of Jonah Courtman took up the licence for the Federal Hotel. It remained in the Courtman family until 1910, when the licence transferred to A.W Davies, then to the Watter family in 1911 and then to the Williams family in 1912-1914. In 1915, it was apparent that the Courtman family missed running the hotel, as they took up the lease again, this time for another 9 years! (Gympie Libraries, 2024). In 1922, still during their time as publicans, the Federal Hotel burned down as the result of a dramatic fire. In 1923, the hotel was re-built on the same site. Following this, the hotel was transferred to Martin Higgins (from Imbil) in 1924. Since then, the hotel has had numerous licensees and is still standing and serving the community, under the new name the “Kilkivan Hotel” (Gympie Regional Libraries, 2024).

The 2^nd version of the Federal Hotel, 1948, 19 Bligh St, Kilkivan. Photograph source: Gympie Regional Libraries photograph collection

Advertisement for Davies Federal Hotel (year unknown). Advertisement source: Kilkivan Historical Museum.

The Railway Hotel- Crescent St, Kilkivan (near what is now the Bowls club)

Our earliest records of this hotel show the first licensee as being Francis Nicholas Davey, who was the publican from 1886-1889. Mr Davey purchased this two-storey hotel from Mount Coora (which was 10km south) and relocated it to Kilkivan. He then modified it to be a one-storey hotel, which was located on the corner of James and Crescent streets, near the station (Gympie Regional Libraries, 2024).

 Following this, Henry Waldock took over as publican from 1889-1892. After this, a man by the name of William McKewan took over the hotel. The McKewan family (who were originally from Tiaro) had a long-standing association with the town (Kilkivan Historical Society, 2008), running this hotel for over 14 years from 1892-1908. They also owned a store opposite the first railway site (Kilkivan Historical Society, 2008). It was reported that the Railway Hotel was then moved to Goomeri following the closure of the railway terminus (Logan,1988).

Map of the Kilkivan township, showing the location of the Railway Hotel was close to the station when the terminus was in Crescent Street, near the site of the Bowls Club (2024). Map source: Kilkivan Historical Museum.

Advertisement for the Railway Hotel (year unknown). Advertisement source: Kilkivan Historical Museum.

The Rise and Shine Hotel- Rise and Shine townsite

John Beer, an English immigrant, and his Irish-born wife, Ann Elizabeth, travelled by horse and wagon from the Bendigo goldfields in Victoria to Kilkivan, arriving in 1878. They established the first hotel on the Rise and Shine mining area (which was located out near the current rifle range at Kilkivan) and named this hotel (you guessed it) “The Rise and Shine Hotel”. Here they reared a family of ten children – four boys and six girls (Kilkivan Historical Society, 2008).

It wasn’t easy being a publican in those days, as I am sure John Beer would have told you. In 1883, he refused a man a drink at his hotel (not liking the man’s appearance), at which the would-be customer threatened Mr Beer with a knife and chased him around the hotel into his daughter’s room. Thankfully both John and his daughter were able to escape unharmed and the man was sentenced to one month’s imprisonment in Brisbane Gaol (see article below).

Newspaper article detailing the incident described above. Article taken from The Queenslander newspaper, 20th Oct 1883.

An early map of the Rise and Shine township (year unknown). Map source: Kilkivan Historical Museum.

The Kilkivan Hotel- Corner of Bligh and Council Streets

While this building looks very similar to the present-day Kilkivan hotel, it is not the same hotel.  This hotel, also known as the Kilkivan Hotel, was situated on the corner of Bligh and Council Streets (in the park area below the Kilkivan swimming pool). The first licensee was Mr Herb Stewart.  The hotel was burnt down in 1916 and a new double-storey building was built on the same site. Later licensees were Mr and Mrs Ryan, Mrs Wex, Mrs Neilson, Mr J Cowhey, Mr T Wright, Mr S Kenkon, Mr J Donaldson. Other owners included Mr P McPherson, Mr C Buchanan and Mr L Ryan (Gympie Regional Libraries, 2024). This hotel was described as ‘the leading commercial hotel, with large coffee and dining rooms, good stabling for horses and buggies for hire’. Telegrams would be delivered and a buggy was provided to meet the trains. This hotel was closed in 1957 and was later dismantled (Logan,1988).

The first Kilkivan Hotel, located on the corner of Bligh and Council streets (on the vacant lot of land in front of where the Kilkivan swimming pool is now). Photograph source: Gympie Regional Libraries photograph collection.

Photograph source: Gympie Regional Libraries photograph collection.

Advertisement for the Kilkivan Hotel (year unknown). Advertisement source: Kilkivan Historical Museum.

Reference List:

• Gympie Regional Libraries. (2024). Gympie Hotel Files. Gympie: Gympie Regional Council. pp.1-50.
• Kilkivan Historical Museum. (year unknown). Hotel Advertisement. [Photograph]. Kilkivan: Kilkivan Historical Museum.
• –Kilkivan Historical Society (2008). KILKIVAN HISTORICAL TOWN WALK. [brochure]. Kilkivan: Kilkivan and District Historical Museum.
• Logan, D. (1988). Where two rivers run : a history of Kilkivan Shire. Kilkivan: Kilkivan Shire Council. pp.1-492.

Click on the links below to learn more about the history of Kilkivan: