History

Stockade in the 1830’s for convicts toiling on the Old Bathurst Road, Mount
Victoria was originally named ‘One Tree Hill 1834. The original “one Tree Hill “ is located at the top of Mt Piddington in Mt Victoria: it is the highest point in the Blue Mountains Ranges (being 1111m above sea level).

The town became known as Mount Victoria in the late 1860’s once the Railway Station and Public School were built.

Mrs Finn applied for the building of the Royal Hotel.

The Royal Hotel had been erected on Mrs Finns land and the first licensee was to William Orbell reputed to have been ‘the fastest whip in the west’.

In a plan dated 1869 the building shown near station street are: the railway station, the stationmaster’s cottage, the post office, The Royal Hotel (now V&A), one tree Hill Inn and the public school. There are also shown 3 stores and a number of huts.
Mary Finn did not benefit greatly from the prime piece of real estate.
Sold later to a group of speculators including William Richman Piddington and his associates, Milson & Roxburgh. These three preceded to sub-divide the land and sell it off in lots, the Royal Hotel was not sold. It was not until after the death of Piddington in 1889

1889 that the hotel was sold to Mary & Jessie Gazzard. Who retained the ownership for 10 years
Then selling to Nicholas Delaney, a familiar figure in Mount Victoria , as he operated a butchery just across the street.
– Delaney purchased the Royal Hotel (V&A) in 1899 – 1906. By then the business interests were well established throughout the Mountains

– Delaney purchased the Royal Hotel (V&A) in 1899 – 1906. By then the business interests were well established throughout the Mountains

H.P. Mathews, who held the licence himself for a couple of years, but then the property passed to A.A. Stewart,

Rebuild of the property The Royal Hotel – Mt Victoria 1912 sold the property to an enterprising hotelier by the name of W.J. Lees.

The Royal Hotel – Mt Victoria 1912- 1943 – W.J. Lees – By 1914 Lees had completely rebuilt the old Royal Hotel and renamed it Hotel Mount Victoria.