It all began in 1863, when Mary and William Craythorne set up a humble alehouse right here—a sod hut with a thatched roof, dirt floor, and the warm hum of locals gathering over William’s handcrafted ale, brewed from a recipe he carried across the seas from England. It wasn’t long before the place earned a name: Mother Craythorne’s Pub - a spot for weary travellers, hardworking settlers, and anyone in need of good company and a hearty pint.
By 1871, the pub had found a new landlord - Tom Mullins - who, for a tidy £720, turned the rustic hut into a grand two-storey hotel - a solid, sturdy establishment known as the Halswell Junction Hotel. For over 80 years, it stood strong, surviving roaring celebrations, quiet conversations, and more than a few nights best left untold…until fire took most of it down in 1954.
Decades passed, but this place refused to be forgotten. In 2011, Brian and Ina Hall took up the torch, bringing life back to the site with a restored hotel, complete with 12 ensuite guest rooms; a nod to the past, built for the present. And when 2013 rolled around, the community raised their glasses to 150 years of stories, laughter, and legendary nights at this historic watering hole.
You coming here today may seem like a moment in the present. But you’re really the next in line of a rich history of punters. So settle in, soak it up, and enjoy some hospitality where generations before you have done the same.