RDHS History Talk: Sir Joseph Banks Hotel

Join us for an engaging presentation that explores the history of the Sir Joseph Banks Hotel and the development and demise of Beaumont & Waller's Zoological and Botanical Gardens, Sydney’s first significant pleasure resort. Fifty years after Sydney's foundation, Botany Bay still had a wild and disconsolate appearance, and the "cart track" from Sydney to Botany Bay was in a wretched state. Despite this, entrepreneur Thomas Kellett saw the area's potential. In 1840, he began constructing a two-story stone inn at Banks Meadow, on a part of the Old Botany Road called Bunnerong Road, later renamed Botany Road. Initially called the Banks Inn, Kellett soon renamed it the Sir Joseph Banks Hotel. Along with hosting private dinners, piano recitals, wedding parties, and honeymooners, Kellett developed the location into a popular spot for bathing, boating and shooting. In January 1847, he leased the Sir Joseph Banks Hotel to William Beaumont, who took on the role of licensee. By September 1848, with his business partner James Waller, Beaumont had begun transforming the gardens and grounds into a pleasure resort, which became known as Beaumont & Waller’s Botanical and Zoological Gardens.

About the speaker: Dr Mark St Leon descends directly from the St Leons, Australia’s earliest family of entertainers. For 11 years, 1983-94, Mark served the Australia Council, the Federal Government’s arts funding and policy advisory body, overseeing the financial and managerial development of numerous arts organisations throughout the nation. From this role, Mark launched Australia's first national conference of circus people, the Circus Summit, convened in Melbourne in 1991 and which led to the establishment of the National Institute of Circus Arts. He founded the Sydney Arts Management Advisory Group (“SAMAG”), now in its 33rd year of continuous operation. In 2007, Mark received a PhD from the University of Sydney for his dissertation, Circus & Nation. He is the author of numerous books, articles and monographs that document the history of circus in Australia.

This talk is presented by The Randwick & District Historical Society in collaboration with Randwick City Library.

For more information, contact The Randwick & District Historical Society: 02 9349 3572 or email: randwickhistory@outlook.com

Terms and Conditions:

• Covid-19 Safety Terms and Conditions apply. Follow this link to find out more. Please review them prior to attending this event as these may change with short notice.
• Online bookings are essential.
• If you are unable to attend the event, please cancel your ticket as soon as possible. This will enable others to participate.
• You do not need to be a Library member to attend this event, however library membership is free and you can join online.
• Please arrive 10 minutes early to allow the event to run on time.
• Your attendance at events supported by Randwick City Council may be digitally recorded through photographs and/or video recordings. Images may be used for promotional purposes on council's websites, publications, social media or by newspapers. By attending this session you agree to these terms. If you do not wish your image to be published, please notify staff before the event.