Local historian Tony Gilmour’s new book, Rascals and Respectables, delves into the rich history of the hotels in Kiama, Jamberoo and Gerringong. 

Speaking with Bernie Hems on Kiama Community Radio, Tony described the book as a passion project that captures the social fabric of the area.

He is celebrating the book’s release with two launch events on Saturday (22 March). 

From the earliest days, hotels were more than just drinking spots. With no council chambers, police stations, or community halls, they hosted everything from council meetings to sports club gatherings. 

Interestingly, early hotels were required to provide accommodation, with licensing laws stipulating a minimum number of bedrooms and even ceiling heights.

The licensing of hotels was driven by revenue rather than regulation.

“State governments couldn’t tax directly, so hotel licences became a lucrative income source,” Gilmour explained. 

In the 1850s, a surge of new venues led to a boom-and-bust cycle, with many closing within months.

Kiama wasn’t always the dominant town. In the mid-19th century, Jamberoo was larger, and an even bigger settlement, Woodstock, has now vanished.

“Woodstock was ahead of its time, with a brewery, timber yard, and over 50 dwellings,” Gilmour added. 

Poor leadership and an isolated location led to its decline, leaving no trace of its existence today.

One of Kiama’s most curious tales is The Gold Diggers Arms, a hotel set up by Joseph Pike near Pike’s Hill. 

A councillor and entrepreneur, Pike nearly bankrupted Kiama Council with infrastructure projects that largely benefited his landholdings.

The hotel’s name played into a hoax about gold in the area, briefly fooling residents into believing a rush was imminent.

With the mining boom of the 1870s and the railway’s arrival, Kiama’s population surged. This led to the era of ornate hotels, including The Grand, Tory’s, the Brighton, and the Royal.

The Royal, once the premier stay for visiting dignitaries, was destroyed in the great fire of 1899, which devastated half of Kiama’s town centre. Tory’s Hotel narrowly escaped the flames.

In true Kiama fashion, locals salvaged what they could from the burning Royal hotel, mainly the liquor, and held an impromptu party.

“It wasn’t all bad news,” Gilmour laughed.

Saturday’s first book launch event is a formal affair at Kiama Library at 2pm with Gareth Ward, which will feature tea and cake.

The event will then relocate upstairs at Tory’s Hotel for a more relaxed gathering at 5pm with drinks and lively anecdotes. 

The book is available at both launches, or from Pilot’s Cottage Museum and local stockists, with all proceeds supporting the Kiama Historical Society.

Rascals and Respectables is a lively tribute to our local hotels and the characters who shaped them.