Detail: Margaret Keenan's Diggers' Arms Hotel, Gulgong
Source: SLNSW
Hotels in Gulgong in 1871
1872 - POLICE COURT
Stealing Blankets - Catherine McGillavery stole quantity of blankets, property of Mr. McKinnon of Herbert Street. Patrick Brennan had her charged. Evidence from Martha Daran, John Murphy and Margaret Keenan. Remanded to Mudgee
Source: Gulgong Guardian, Issue No 84, 5 June 1872
1872 - POLICE COURT
Drunk - James White, charged, pleaded guilty, fined 40/-. Also charged with using insulting and disgusting language to Margaret Keenan in Herbert Street, when he came drunk to her place and she refused to serve him with drink, fine £5.
Source: Gulgong Guardian, Issue No 84, 5 June 1872
1873 - [PETITION]
Margaret Keenan was one of only two women among the 275 persons who petitioned for the creation of the Municipality of Gulgong in 1873.
1873 - MISSING
Diggers Arms Hotel in Queen Street, Mrs. Keenan Proprietor. Horses lost or stolen, hobbled when they went missing.
Source: Gulgong Guardian, Issue No 84, 5 June 1872
1875 - Fire Brigade
There were nearly 40 members in attendance at the last meeting most in uniform, Captain R N Collins in command. About a dozen names were checked for fines. The engine was taken down Herbert Street to the Diggers Arms Hotel with the understanding that there was a cellar full of water, but this turned out to be a mistake. Then they went to the lower end of Queen Street to Mr McGrath cellar’s, adjusted the hose and then found it was altogether unfit for service, the new hose should soon be ready then no doubt that more efficiency will be obtained. Mrs Powell of the Star Hotel, has offered Binder’s Hall for drill practice, this will be decided at the next meeting.
Source: Gulgong Evening Argus, 14 August 1875
1875 - Magisterial Inquiry
Magisterial Inquiry was held into the death of Jane O’Brien, at Mrs Keenan’s, Diggers Arms Hotel, by L S Donaldson.
Constable Robert Forster: From information I received about 4.30pm yesterday, I went to the Digger’s Bakery, lately opened by the deceased [formerly by Daniel Pope]; I recognised the body of a woman, Jane O’Brien; she had told me her named a few weeks ago; I now produce a bottle of medicine and a tin of what I believe to be opium; they were handed to me by a woman named Henry; I was present at the post mortem examination by Dr Bennett; I saw no marks of violence on the body.
Jane Henry: I live down the Black Lead; I have known the deceased about five months; she was taken ill about nine o’clock, she complained of her head; I offered to fetch the doctor, she declined; a Chinese doctor and put something on her head and advised me to send for Dr Bennett—which I did, he came about 12 or 1pm.; the deceased died between 4 and 5pm.; since I have known the deceased she has been a heavy drinker and has been in the habit of taking opium pills, which she obtained from Mr Bird, chemist and sometimes from Ah Pong, Chinese doctor; she would take four pills at a time and sometimes take them 5 or 6 times a day; I was with her when she died.
R H K Bennett: I was called to visit the decease about 3pm, she was then in a state of collapse, her pulse imperceptible and she skin covered with a clammy perspiration her extremities cold, the pupils dilated; she was dying; my post mortem examination showed that the cause of death was due to the excessive use of drink and the inordinate use opium. Verdict in accordance with the above facts. She was aged 28 years
Source: Gulgong Evening Argus, 17 November 1875
1876 - Prospecting Association
Meeting held at Driscoll’s Warburton Hotel. Present: Messrs Byrne [in the chair] O’Neill, Driscoll, Wesley, Marshall, Winter, Hunter, Ward, Morris and Durham. Messrs Winter and Ward produced a receipt for 4 pounds 19 shillings and 6 pence the amount collected by them from Herbert Street. They announced five more new subscribers to the association: Messrs Langbein, Collins, Molloy, Aspinall and Mrs Keenan. Mrs Reed’s name was omitted from the list published last week, she was amongst the first to scribe.
Source: Gulgong Evening Argus, 20 May 1876
1876 - Police Court before T A Browne PM
Child Desertion - Catherine Cassedy charged. Sergeant James Keenan stated at 8pm Saturday last, while near the lock-up he heard the cry of an infant, went over to the fence along the side of the road, saw no woman anywhere but found a bundle against one of the posts; opening it he found it to contain a living child, apparently newly born wrapped in a piece of new flannel; went for Dr Ramsay and some female assistance; the child was properly taken care of; then procured the services of a nurse. Sunday went to the house of Mrs Keenan, saw the prisoner there, asked her where she was on Saturday night, she replied at Mrs Kelly’s; when asked if the child found was hers, she replied, "Yes, I did it by myself". Showed her the baby and she said it was hers, took it and kissed it, shortly afterwards she had the child at her breast. I then charged her with concealing the birth of a child.
Dr Ramsay stated he examined the prisoner and she had recently given birth.
Committed for trial at Mudgee.
Source: Gulgong Evening Argus, 12 July 1876
1876 - Diggers Arms Hotel
Mrs Margaret Keenan Wishes to inform her friends and the Public at large that she has opened a NEW HOTEL under the sign Old Sign of DIGGERS’ ARMS HOTEL at the corner of Herbert and Belmore Streets.
Source: Gulgong Evening Argus, December 2, 1876
