The historic White Horse Hotel of St Peters is for sale, offering a new era for a tradition that has spanned more than 180 years in the area.
There have been multiple pubs bearing the name White Horse in Sydney, bringing curious connection over the course of successive generations, at four locations.
The most recent White Horse of Newtown closed in 1982, but its predecessor was established over 130 years prior.
Born 1813, James Richards immigrated to the colony of NSW with his parents as a boy. In 1841 he became proprietor of the White Horse Inn, on George Street in Sydney town, which he ran for three years, along with a carriage service transporting people to Newtown, six kilometres’ away.
Richards established the original White Horse of Newtown in 1848. He soon leased the operation, but continued to live on the premises. It was here, in 1852, he is accredited with having initiated a gold rush hoax that drew hundreds of men to the new town to seek their fortune.
In 1856 the pub was sold to John Richardson. His passing led his son, John Richardson Jr, to lease the Hero of Waterloo Inn at St Peters, less than a kilometre from Newtown and closer to the city. The Hero had been in operation on the Princes Highway since 1853.
Richardson promptly changed the name to the White Horse Hotel, to keep up the family tradition. After 21 years in business he purchased the freehold of the property.
When he passed away in 1879, his widow, Honora, took over the management. In 1884 she built a replacement hotel beside the former pub. After her passing in 1910, it was eventually sold to Tooth & Company, in 1914, which went on to build a new two-storey brick structure in 1930.
The same year Tooth & Co bought at St Peters, the White Horse Inn of Newtown was demolished.
Its St Peters namesake has traded under many hands in the near century since the new building, but it fell victim to hard times and closed in 2020. A new tenant took over the reins, and after some renovation reopened the doors at the end of 2022.
Equipped with 585sqm of floor space, the pub has a public bar, lounge, commercial kitchen, function rooms, covered outdoor area, beer garden with bar, nine pub-style accommodation rooms upstairs and onsite parking.
It is configured to accommodate patrons in multiple areas, and host live music.
The operation is under a five-year lease that began July 2019, with a further five-year option, paying $165k annual rent.
The Horse is currently trading only Thursday to Sunday, and potential is cited in extending operating hours, as well as activating the kitchen, and increasing revenue from the accommodation.
A sales campaign suggests the Horse’s potential to become a hotspot for hospitality, music, arts, and community, in a precinct with a rich history, diverse population and growing mix of residential and commercial spaces, even outweighs its colourful past.
“The hotel is the perfect canvas,” says Retail Business’ Barn Wilkes, marketing the lease interest.
“Experienced operators, this is your chance to secure a vibrant, multifaceted venue with a rich history and a bright future.”
