Photo: Bigge’s Camp -1867.
John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland, Neg 996

Grandchester History

Jockey Club Inn – Grandchester’s First Hotel

© Jane Schy 2024

Brothers Frederick and Francis Bigge were two of our Moreton Bay pioneer squatters of the early days. They settled on good quality land near Mount Brisbane in September 1841. Their property of 45,900 acres on Reedy Creek, county of Stanley, covered the land to the east of the junction of the Brisbane and Stanley Rivers and was approximately 56 miles (90 klms) from the settlement which would come to be known as Bigge’s Camp. It was under the management of William McArthur Bowman and it carried about 7,000 head of cattle.

Frederick William Bigge, described as a tall, thin, wiry-looking young man, well mounted and well armed, started a horse stud in August 1842 when he travelled to the Nepean district and bought 150 horses. Further on he added another 50 horses at Kilcoy. After starting out for home, when he neared Aberdeen, his party was held up by the notorious bushranger David Wilson and his accomplices Long Tom Forrester and Long Ned (“Wilson’s Gang”). Frederick was armed with a small pocket pistol but he bravely stood up to them and was shot in the shoulder by Wilson. The rest of his party cleared out, their horses were scattered, and when they reached town they mistakenly reported that Bigge had been murdered.

While the bushrangers were reloading their guns, Frederick took the opportunity to mount his horse and ride to the nearest station. When he went into the station hut his horse took off, so he was forced to walk to Ninemga where he could be seen by a doctor. He made a good recovery. Two of the bushrangers (Wilson and Forrester) were caught and hanged, however Long Ned escaped this fate because he’d been ousted from the gang before their capture for refusing to fire on Mr Bigge.

(This episode was reproduced in the novel, “Robbery Under Arms” by Rolf Boldrewood, published in 1888.)

The horses were found with the exception of ten, so he set off again for home. On the final leg of his journey north to Mount Brisbane, Frederick Bigge and his party camped beside a lagoon at the place which became known as Bigge’s Camp. Because of the permanent water supply there, it had always been a stopping point for travellers looking for a place to rest, including one of our famous explorers Alan Cunningham who camped there in June 1829. It was a well-used watering place for teamsters employed by the Bigge brothers and many other teamsters.

At the official opening ceremony of the first railway line between Ipswich and Bigge’s Camp on 31st July 1865, the Governor Sir George Ferguson Bowen said he thought the name sounded a lot like “big camp”so he renamed the location using the Old English derivatives – grand (big) and chester (camp). On 3rd August 1865 the area was surveyed by A. P. Linde and the station was tagged on the plans as Bigge’s Camp.

Fifteen years before this event, in those wild colonial days before Queensland became a separate state from New South Wales (6th June 1859), a Frenchman who possessed a colourful name and a colourful character established an Inn and store there. 

Wellmande Prosper Douyere was granted a publicans’ license for the “Jockey Club Inn” at Bigge’s Camp on 16th April 1850. (1)  For at least 12 months this public house was the only one advertised in the Moreton Bay Courier.

In September 1851, Thomas Alford started the Drayton Coach run, a four horse coach running between Ipswich and Drayton. It left Drayton on Mondays and Fridays at 7 am and arrived at Gatton at 11 am, Douyere’s at 2 pm and Ipswich at 6 pm. On Tuesdays and Saturdays it left Ipswich at 7 am, arriving at Douyere’s at 11am, Gatton at 2 pm and Drayton at 6 pm. Fares were Ipswich to Douyere’s £1, Gatton £1-10 and Drayton £2. This would have been a great benefit to Monsieur Douyere.

In early 1852 the Inn was being referred to as “Douyere’s House of Accomodation”. One of the Douyere children, daughter Jane Elizabeth (born 1st November 1951) was baptised there on1st March 1852 by Father Downing.

On 3rd November, by virtue of the Power of Sale contained in an Indenture of Mortgage, a public auction (without reserve) was held at Douyere’s House of Accomodation. About 400 most improved sheep and lambs, 16 unsurpassed horses and a quantity of household furniture both useful and ornamental which was purchased at great expense was offered for sale. (2)

Wellmande had liabilities of £238/7. The value of his personal property and moneys was £6 and the mount of deficiency was  £252/7. His Irish wife, Bridget Elizabeth nee Warham, had been previously married to a solicitor named John Scott who died in 1847. She had two children with John Scott. Wellmande and Bridget had eight more children together. It is likely that Bridget used her private money to assist the family while her husband started another business.

In November 1853, Wellmande placed an advertisement in the Moreton Bay Courier about his new business, breaking-in and training horses.

This enterprise was successful enough to enable Wellmande to apply to the Chief Commissioner of Insolvent Estates at Sydney for a Certificate of Discharge in March 1854. Wellmande decided to apply again for a publicans’ license at Ipswich Police Court on 7th September. Here is the report.

At Ipswich, Mr. W. P. Douyere applied for a license tor his house at Bigge’s Camp. On the bench were Colonel Gray, Dr. Dorsey, and Messrs. Rankin and Cardew. Mr. Mort opposed the application. 

It came out that some few years ago Mr. Mort wrote a number of letters to Douyere (then in Mr. Bigge’s employ), desiring him to come and build a public-house on his run, at the place commonly known as Bigge’s Camp. Douyere complied, and an understanding was entered into that the latter should take his mutton from Messrs. Mort and Laidley. Subsequently Douyere, finding that he could get meat much cheaper elsewhere, took the liberty of doing so, and hence Mr. Mort opposed the granting of a license for his house.

Mr. Mort admitted that the house was an accommodation on the road, and that he had no objection to Douyere on any other grounds. Dr. Dorsey felt assured from recent personal observation, that there was great need of a Public House at this place. He was lately on the road, and staid for a few minutes at Mr. M’Keon’s at the Old Man’s Water Hole.

(Our correspondent proceeds to quote some remarks of Dr. Dorsey, very far from complimentary to the house alluded to.) Mr. Cardew gave similar evidence. He did not think they had any right to obtrude themselves upon the hospitality of any private gentlemen, while a public house was within reasonable distance, and they had the means in their pockets of paying for such accomodation as they might require. 

Col. Gray at first was disposed to refuse the license but seeing a majority on the Bench against him suddenly changed his mind. Mr. Rankin was  a silent spectator of the scene.

It was shown that Douyere had laid out over £1000 on the premises, and that his recommendation was signed by nearly every respectable person in the district who travelled that road. Mr. Mort intimated that he had instituted proceedings to expel Douyere altogether from the run, and that it was only a question of time with him, his license being immaterial. At last Mr. Mort observed that the Bench had no power to grant Douyere a license for part of a squatter’s run, without the consent of the squatter. Upon this issue was joined, and the Bench, before granting the license, agreed to refer the matter to the Solicitor-General. (3)

Douyere was somewhat of a scallywag, and his announcement in the Moreton Bay Courier in November, contained the following:

JOCKEY CLUB JUNIOR
BIGGE’S CAMP
Fiat Justitia Ruat Coelum (Let justice be done though the heavens fall.)
MR. W. P. DOUYERE
BEGS to inform the public that having at length obtained
his licence he will be glad to see his old customers again.
Hospitality.
All reality.
No formality,
Here ye shall ever see
Our free and aisy
Will so amaze ye.
Ye’ll think us all crazy
For dull we will never never be.
It is needless for him to say that the same attention, cleanliness
and good cheer, which characterised the Jockey Club Inn
in former days, will not be found wanting at the present time.
Nov. 10, 1854.

After Christmas the Douyeres left Bigge’s Camp and Wellmande went to work his “North Australian Livery Stables” in Limestone Street, Ipswich.

On 17th April 1855, Edward Owens was granted a publican’s licence for the Jockey Club Inn at Bigge’s Camp.

Edmund Owens was the brother of Samuel Owens, sons of Sam Owens and his infamous wife Sally, who ran the notorious Woolpack Inn at Old Man’s Waterhole. In May 1856 Edmund was indicted for having forcibly ravishing a teenage girl named Mary Ahearn in January at Bigge’s Camp. After a trial in which the evidence of Samuel Owens and John McKeon contradicted the girl’s evidence, the jury returned a verdict of “not guilty”.

An Irishman named John Moran from Sydney bought the Jockey Club Inn. On 7th April 1856 he was granted a license to run it. He announced it in the newspaper.
JOHN MORAN BEGS to return thanks for the liberal patronage bestowed on him since he commenced business in the above premises, and to inform his Friends and the Inhabitants of the northern districts generally, that having completed extensive additions, and given the whole premises a thorough overhaul regardless of expense, he can now confidently assert that the Jockey Club Inn is second to no Bush Inn in the district. Wines, Spirits, &c, of the first quality.  Remember Drayton Road, 20 miles from Ipswich. A secure well-watered and grassy Paddock. Good Stabling and plenty of Corn and Hay always on hand.

He had a shaky start. In July he was brought before the Bench for neglecting to supply E. A. Douglas, Esq., with corn and hay, thereby having committed a breach of his recognisance. The case was proved and he was fined £5 and full costs.

John found himself on the other side in December 1857.
CAUTION.— Drawn on the Bank of Australasia, Ipswich, by Mr. A. C. Bayley, Overseer of the Roads, a Cheque in favour of No. 11, for £27 10s., since known to have been stolen. Payment of the same has been stopped. Any person delivering it to the undersigned will receive the above reward. JOHN MORAN. Bigge’s’ Camp, December 2, 1857. £2 REWARD.

John and his wife Eliza nee McKeon had 6 children. Their Inn was the first stage stop out of Ipswich. Traffic was so busy that it was often difficult to obtain a bed at night, but Mr. Moran’s “shake downs” were always acceptable to many a weary traveller. [A shakedown bed is a temporary bed made by shaking down or spreading hay or quilts or a mattress, with coverings, on the floor, on a table, etc.]

The local hotel was a lively place. In September 1859, a horse-thief named William Branch stole a grey mare, a saddle and a bridle from John Wright at Dalby. He was described as being about 23 years old, 5 feet 4 inches tall, fresh complexion, blue eyes, light brown hair, a few reddish hairs on the chin and a native of London. He had a smart, active appearance, looked rather flash, and was wearing a brown coat, Crimean shirt and a Panama hat with a crepe band on it. A £10 reward was offered for his apprehension.

William Branch hastily made his escape from Dalby and headed for Ipswich. When he arrived at Moran’s hotel at Bigge’s Camp, he sold the horse and equipment to the landlord and then walked to Ipswich. That morning, a Constable from Gatton, who had read about the incident, recognised William Branch as someone who had not long passed through the town, so he started off in hot pursuit. Two hours after his arrival in Ipswich, the scoundrel Branch was apprehended and placed in safe custody. 

The hotel was also a place where a variety of meetings were commonly held. In January 1860 an inquest was held at the hotel on the body of James McGee, who died during the night before. From the evidence, it appeared that McGee was camping at Bigge’s Camp with William Nowlan, Patrick Shaughnessy, and George Evans.

About nine o’clock Evans had some words with McGee about bullock-driving. McGee hit Evans who was lying down at the time. Evans got up and they began to fight, but held onto each other and fell. They got up and fell a second time. McGee stood up and struck Evans when he was down. Evans stood up and walked away.

Shaughnessy then spoke to McGee, chastising him for striking Evans when he was down. Some time after, Evans went back to the dray to speak to McGee. After exchanging a few words, McGee struck Evans, and Evans hit him again. Evans walked away.

Nowlan and Shaughnessy tried to lift McGee up and get him to the dray. He was drunk so they left him and Nowlan covered him with a blanket. Nowlan, Shaughnessy, and Evans then went to bed. In the morning McGee was found lying where he last fell, dead. Verdict: That deceased died from a blow given by George Evans, a blow that was given in self-defence. Evans was then discharged from custody, to appear on his own recognisance if called upon.

In March of that year John Moran wrote to the Surveyor General requesting twenty acres of land, including the Jockey Club Inn, which would allow him to purchase the Inn under ‘pre-emptive rights’. He also stated that he had purchased the inn from Douyere and improved it by enlarging the house, making gardens and fencing the paddock.

In July he advertised for sale the license and the goodwill of the hotel along with a farm of excellent land near the new bridge at Laidley Creek. In September 1860 John Moran left Bigge’s Camp and took over the license of the Highland Home Hotel in Brisbane Street, Ipswich and renamed it the Jockey Club Inn. He was insolvent by the end of 1862.

On 4th December 1860, William Mann was granted a half license for the house lately occupied by John Moran at Bigge’s Camp, and he said he would run it under the sign of the “Postman’s Arms.” 

His license was renewed 16 April 1861, and then immediately transferred it to Robert Edmund Dix. In November Robert married Miss Ellen Scott, second daughter of Mr. John Scott of Dumfrieshire, Scotland.

ROBERT EDMUND DIX BEGS to inform his friends and the public, that be has succeeded Wm. Mann as proprietor of the above Inn, and has concluded arrangements which will enable him to secure every comfort to all classes of travellers. Every department is under the personal superintendence mine proprietor, in order to prevent the possibility of complaints. Private apartments for families. The Stable will always be provided with the best of Hay and Corn. A good grass and well-watered Paddock, and a Groom in attendance. Every care will be taken of travellers’ horses placed in the paddock, but no responsibility incurred. (5)

Then on 3rd September 1862, the license of the Postman’s Arms transferred from Robert Edmund Dix to John Cook. John Cook aka “Uncle” was from Somerset in England. He proved to be a very mobile publican. John and his wife Eleanor (Ellen) Mann nee Goodrich didn’t have any children.

In April 1864 flood water came within 18 feet of the hotel, which was said to have been on a very high piece of ground. An inquest was held at the Postman’s Arms in March 1865 on the body of a girl named Harris (the adopted daughter of Mrs. Stephenson), who was killed by the wheel of a dray passing ever her body. The jury returned a verdict of accidental death.

When it came time to renew his license in April 1866, Cook’s application was adjourned for 14 days because he failed to comply with section 9 of the Liquor Act (he failed to apply by the due date). John Cook went to Toowoomba and applied for the license of the Royal Exchange Hotel in Margaret Street, and the Postman’s Arms was put up for rent.

On 12th March 1867, the license of Joseph Cook of the Engineers’ Hotel at Helidon, was transferred to John Cook and then John Cook transferred it to the Postman’s Arms, Grandchester. In August the license was transferred to his brother Joseph Cook and then to his mother Phoebe Cook in September. (Both Joseph and Phoebe had the licence for the Rising Sun Hotel at Rosewood in the early 1860’s)

John Cook left Grandchester to run the Exchange Hotel at Roma and later the had the Royal Hotel at Roma. In October 1869 he advertised in the Queensland Times that he was selling, by private contract, the Royal Hotel, because he was returning to Grandchester to resume his old business. The hotel didn’t sell so in March the next year he auctioned the fittings, furniture, etc of the Royal Hotel. He returned to Grandchester but instead of taking up business there, he took on the license of the Railway Hotel at North Ipswich. In November 1870 John Cook was once again granted a license for the newly named “Grandchester Hotel”.

In December 1870, a public meeting was held at the hotel to consider the establishment of a Primary School in the district. It was unanimously resolved to write to the Board of Education and a subscription list was opened with promises of support to the extent of £4 were obtained. Some discussion took place as to the most eligible site for erecting the school house and it was generally agreed that a central spot between Alfred, Mort’s Creek, and Grandchester would be best to encourage a larger attendance of children. Mr John McDonald was appointed honorary secretary, and Mr John Cook honorary treasurer.

Mr. John Cook, the host of the hotel at Grandchester, has done what all bush bonifaces should do – and what is frequently done in the country districts of England, and almost universally in the country districts of Tasmania-united the calling of host with that of farmer. Mr. Cook’s 6 acres of cotton, though put in late, looks very well indeed, and is much cleaner than most about this district. The soil is light and sandy, and, as appears invariably to be the case on such soil, the seed is smaller than the average, and will yield more clean cotton per 100 lbs of seed than most around here. Whether the cause which prevents the development of the seed also injures the staple of the cotton would require an experienced judge to decide. Mr. Cook has also an acre of corn.

In October 1871 John Cook returned to Roma and re-opened the Royal Hotel. John’s mother (Phoebe) died in Grandchester in 1872, so the old hotel must have been used as a private residence after he left. John returned to Grandchester in January 1876 and was granted a license for the Grandchester Hotel once again.

On 15th March 1877, Mr. J. V. Jenkins auctioned the hotel on behalf of John Cook.
That centrally-situated and well-established House, close to the Railway Station, THE GRANDCHESTER HOTEL, containing Fourteen Rooms, detached Kitchen, Servants’ and Store Rooms, Six-stalled Stable, and other out Buildings, besides a well-fenced Paddock and Garden, &c., containing 9 Acres more or less. The Hotel and Household Furniture, Horses, Cattle, Pigs, Poultry, and Farming Implements. Also, an 80-Acre Paddock, with Workman’s Cottage and 12 Acres under cultivation.

James Brisbane was granted the license for Grandchester Hotel on 12th June 1877.

There was some excitement there in August when the body of a man, Thomas Perkins, was bought to the hotel after falling from his horse. A couple of days before, Mr. Perkins of Messrs. Perkins & Co. of the Toowoomba brewery, left Toowoomba by first train for Grandchester and rode to Franklyn Vale. He was returning to Grandchester on horseback with 14 year old Frederick Moore at half-past five in the afternoon. He intended to catch the night train for Toowoomba. They were running late so Thomas struck the horse on the cheek to make him go faster. The horse shied off from the road into the bush. It turned around to come onto the road again and Perkins almost fell off. He was hanging out horizontally from the horse. His head hit a tree before he fell to the ground facedown. Death was instantaneous.

After 17 years, on the 13th February 1878, at Ipswich Police Court, the licence of the Grandchester Hotel was transferred from James Brisbane back to John Moran.

The old hotel and 7 acres of land was sold in June 1880 for £108 to Father Andrew Horan from Ipswich.

The old hotel at Grandchester, with seven acres of land, that would have fetched £1000 in the palmy days of Cobb and Co., ere the iron horse came whistling over the range, was sold by auction last month for £108. I understand it is about to be transformed into a convent school, under the charge of two Sisters pf Mercy. If so, it will probably be the means of injuring, or perhaps of closing the State school in that place. The education given in the nuns’ school may not be equal to that imparted in the State school, but there are other advantages that will counterbalance that defect. (7)

Father Horan intended it to be used as a convent school with two Sisters of Mercy in residence, but the school didn’t eventuate. It was however used for church purposes. It ceased to be a pub and it was tenanted by Mr. Moran and his family. One portion was used as a chapel and the Morans ran a refreshment room in their portion.

At the end of 1885 John Moran leased the railway refreshment room at Grandchester (£100 per annum for two years). He kept the lease until December 1890 when the tender of James Hooper was accepted. The refreshment room closed at the end on 1891.

In June the next year, John and Eliza Moran retired to their neat and commodious residence they had built in Railway Street, Gatton. John died there in January 1894. He didn’t live quite long enough to see what happened to the old building.

Father Horan

In September, 1894 Father Andrew Horan had a Roman Catholic chapel erected at the back of the old building at a cost of £261. James Madden was the contractor and it was designed by Ipswich architect, Henry Wyman. The old hotel was sold for the timber in it. Tenders were called for pulling it down and removing it. Mr. Jacob Baker was the successful tenderer at £9/2/6.

On the 6th November 1894, St Peters Catholic Church was opened by Archbishop Dunne, Rev. Andrew Horan and M. Ryan. Two hundred and thirty-eight people travelled by train to be present at the occasion. Luncheon was served in the ruins of the old hotel immediately in front of the church. The walls and all of the sound parts of the building had been pulled out so that nothing remained but a skeleton outline of it. It was here, amongst the stumps, that the long rows of heavily laden tables were spread for the hungry visitors. What a sight that would have been!

The old historical hotel had stood the turbulence and stress of some fifty four years, and it was a flourishing business house in the days when Bigge’s Camp was the centre of cattle droving activity. Several landlords occupied it. The best remembered of them by local folk in later years was, perhaps, “Uncle John Cook”. 

Oh, the tales that could have been told by that old building if it could have but spoken!

St Peter’s Catholic Church – Cnr George St & Symes St, Grandchester
The first wedding in the church was that of Roger Toohey and Rose Ann Cummins on 14th September 1904.
Ipswich Parish Priest, Father Stephen Bliss, held a final Mass in the old church on Thursday, 27th October 2022. Father Bliss also deconsecrated the church.

References:
The State Library of Queensland
Family Search – Genealogical Society of Utah
Trove – National Library of Australia
(1) Moreton Bay Courier, Saturday 20 April 1850, page 2
(2) Moreton Bay Courier, Saturday 30 October 1852, page 3
(3) Moreton Bay Courier, Saturday 16 September 1854, page 2
(4) North Australian, Ipswich and General Advertiser, Tuesday 5 August 1856, page 1
(5) Brisbane Courier, Friday 5 July 1861, page 1
(6) Queensland Times, Ipswich Herald and General Advertiser, Tuesday 24 July 1866, page 1
(7) Queenslander , Saturday 31 July 1880, page 134