A recent survey by the NSW Government revealed the most common names for licensed hotels across the state in 2025, with familiar names like Royal Hotel and Commercial Hotel topping the list. These pubs, scattered across New South Wales, have long been staples of community life. 

Closer to home, Kiama once had its fair share of pubs with similar names – though only The Grand Hotel and Tory’s remain today. Are you like me and remember the Brighton Hotel? 

The Grand Hotel and Tory’s have survived while others have faded into memory. Photos Kiama Library

What happened to the others? Why have these two endured while so many others disappeared?

Pubs were once central to Kiama’s daily life. They were places where people could gather after a hard day’s work, share a laugh, or even quietly enjoy a drink without judgement. They weren’t just buildings, they were places of connection, with names like the Imperial Hotel or Railway Hotel conjuring images of a different time.

The Grand Hotel and Tory’s have survived while others have faded into memory. Is it their location, their character, or perhaps something intangible that keeps them standing?

These two pubs now serve as living relics of a time when Kiama’s streets were dotted with places to pull up a stool and share in the town’s stories.

We’re calling on the community to help us remember the names and stories of Kiama’s lost pubs. 

Were they places for celebration, or just a quiet refuge?

If you have memories, photos, or even theories about why The Grand and Tory’s have outlasted the rest, we’d love to hear them.

Kiama Library has the back story of Tory's Hotel. Here is a little snippet

We all know the iconic 'Tory's Hotel' in the centre of Kiama, but did you know that it is the oldest continuously operating business in Kiama? The licence was appointed to Irishman Jimmy Barton and his wife Elizabeth on 6 April 1853, originally for 'The Fermanagh'. (Two other inns in town predated the Fermanagh, although they have not survived.)