One by one the old landmarks of the early Gulgong mining days are disappearing from the main business centre.
The latest is a one time hotel in Herbert Street, opposite Mr. Cross’s two storey butcher’s shop.
At a later period it was a Billiard Saloon and a butcher’s shop, conducted by the ever-popular Mr. Judge [still going strong.]
The writer can well remember this hotel in palmy days—it was a noted house and along side the hotel -under the same roof - was a gambling school, most ably managed by a good staff of sports. It was here that cards and hazards were played every night and hundreds of pounds were lost.
The ‘school’ was under police supervision and was regularly visited by Sub-Inspector Medley of Mudgee and Senior Sergeant O’Donnell [in charge of the police camp] and Sergeant Keenan, their services were never required as proceedings were properly conducted.
The name of the hotelkeeper who ran the hotel was Edward Tarrant.
Coming back to the demolition of the Herbert Street buildings—now owned by Mr. Ray Naughton, who intends to build some brick shops.
Source: MUDGEE MAIL - GULGONG NEWS, Thursday, October 6, 1938
