Take a step back in time when you visit one of Australia's oldest pubs, The Settlers Arms Inn in St Albans, a small historic village located on the banks of the Macdonald River in the Hawkesbury; just a two-hour leafy drive from Sydney.
Sheltered with jacaranda's that have stood the test of time, the hotel is steeped in history that dates back to the convict era and was established in 1836. Constructed of hand-cut sandstone by the convicts, the inn was a popular stopover for the Cobb and Co. stagecoaches during the nineteenth century.
Today it is more like a living museum, conserving the rustic rural surrounds and heritage heirlooms of yesteryear through memorabilia on the walls and a preservation of leaving things just as they were..except maybe the kegs of beer and the kitchen fridge.
The Settlers Arms Inn is now a well-loved stopover point for road trippers in particular motorcyclist meandering through the curvaceous bitumen of Wiseman's Ferry and surrounds, offering plenty of timber clad tables and chairs, ideal for kicking back with a classic Aussie brew and a generous pub grub meal.
This isn't fine dining and thank goodness for that. Expect to find your usual pastry inspired meals of pies with mash, vegetarian pasties, homemade cakes and scones, pizzas and flame grilled steaks. Dining is available from breakfast through to dinner.
Head around to the courtyard and garden out the back and be greeted by a hoard of feathered folk with resident hens ( and their chicks) and stunning peacocks, adding to the country feel and ambience of the place.
If you want to make a stay of it, accommodation is available at The Settlers Arms Inn, ideal for a weekend away. Get active at the nearby tennis court, local swim spots, walks along the river, a round of golf at the nearby Wisemans Ferry course or just enjoy the sound of live music on select nights playing live from the courtyard.
1 Wharf Street
St Albans NSW 2775
Australia
Phone: 02 4568 2111