Thanks to Jeanette Goss for writing this post for the A-Z challenge.
Many people would flock to the Sorell Sale yards. Many of them were local farmers there to sell their wares.
Then: site of the Sale yards
Now: the site of the current library, spare block and Mc Donald’s
NS1553-1-106 Sale yards
Other places that I remember over time from 1962 – current
Then: Braithwaite supermarket
Now: Gordon Street now the site of Banjos and Terry White Chemist
On the eastern shore of Hobart in 1818, there were only three licensed publicans at Herdsman’s Cove, Clarence Plains and Kangaroo Point.
In 1819, only three again outside of Hobart Town – Black Snake, Clarence Plains and Herdsman’s Cove.
In 1820, Herdsmen’s Cove and Black Snake & Old Beach Ferry were the only two outside of Hobart.
The first mention of a licensed publican in the Sorell municipality was in March 1822. But by August 1822, he was in trouble.
William Marsh 1822
I then found mention of Daniel Long being able to sell spirits, wine and beer in the country area at the Plough and Harrow in Sorell Town in 1824. Also mentioned was James Honey at Plough and Harrow at Pitt Water.
Using the Tasmanian Names Index Daniel Long is the licensed publican from 1824-1829.
A writer of an article in the local paper in 1825 was worried about the number of ‘sly grog shops’ in Van Diemen’s Land.
By 1827, there were 36 licensed publicans in Hobart Town and 22 in the country area. That included:
Daniel Long of Pittwater – Plough and Harrow
Brereton Rolla Watson of Sorell Town – Sorell Inn
James Kestall Buscombe of Richmond – Lennox Arms
By 1829, there were 50 licensed publicans in Hobart Town and 37 in the country area. That included:
J. K. Buscombe, Lennox arms, Richmond.
W. Currie, Blue bell, Sorell.
D. Long, Plough & Harrow, Sorell.
C. Layman, Wheat-sheaf, Sorell.
B. R. R. P. Watson, Sorell inn, Sorell
By 1830, there were 47 licensed publicans in Hobart Town and 40 in the country area. That included:
J. K. Buscombe, Lennox Arms, Richmond
Joseph Clyne, Gordon Arms, Richmond,
Henry Fisher, Wheat Sheaf, Sorell.
Henry Leigh, Sorell Inn, Sorell.
Dan. Long, Plough and Harrow, Sorell
A Political Association meeting included information about licensed publicans in 1835.
Political association
To find out more about the inns and hotels of Sorell in the early 1800s, use the Libraries Tasmania search everything and use Sorell Inn Hotel as your keywords. Remember you will also get information for Port Sorell which you will need to eliminate.
Present day hotels in Sorell include the Pembroke Hotel and the Gordon Highlander, both pictured below.
Gordon Street, Sorell showing Post Office, C M Yates tea shop, Sorell Garage and Pembroke Hotel
Gordon Highlander Hotel
Reminder:Clicking on images and blue links will take you to the original document.
The Sorell Newsagency is at 15 Gordon Street, Sorell Tasmania 7172.
Interview with Lisa Peacock 2008
Ken and Lisa Peacock bought the Sorell Newsagency because they wanted to try something new and have a new outlook. They have four staff at the moment. Their opening and closing hours are 6:30AM till 6:00PM. They, personally, first opened it in August 2007. It has never been rebuilt. It has always been a newsagency. Four people has owned it including them. No disasters have happened. Originally it was bigger but it was split in half to make a lolly shop on one side.
The Sorell Newsagency was built in 1962 and it was built because it was the only one in Sorell. The size of the building is 468 square metres. The wall material is brick veneer. It has got a tile roof and its Valuation Property Classification is Retail/Business.
In 1983 it was sold for $65,000 but in 2004 it was sold for $400,000.
