19 April 1836: William Lindsay conveyed to James Macdonald and James Young for £69 10s; includes property [21]. [1]

7 October 1836: Licence to retail wine and spirits granted to James Macdonald and James Young. [2]

10 November 1836: James Macdonald and James Young secured a £400 mortgage from Robert Barr against properties [8], [21]. [3]

27 July 1838: "To Sell or Let."
CROWN INN, BOTHWELL. To Sell or Let. This spacious two-story stone building, on which no expense has been spared, measures 50 feet in length, by 25 feet in width, with two fronts, and comprises on the ground floor three excellent parlours, kitchen, and store, 25 feet by 12, with splendid cellar below, taproom, 20 feet by 14, with beds for six above, the lobby and stone stair is of the very best description. The upper flat contains three single bedrooms, and two large double bedrooms, with granary above the store, same size; garret rooms may easily be fitted up if required. There is a good six-stall stable, and a first-rate stone bakehouse and oven, with an unequalled well of spring water, and capital garden, with abundance of fruit trees... [4]

5 October 1838: Licence to retail wine and spirits granted to James Macdonald. [5]

23 August 1839: Land Grant issued to Thomas Young. [6]

29 August 1839: Deed of Grant enrolled and recorded to Thomas Young. [6]

7 November 1839: Thomas Young, upon trust, consented and agreed to convey the legal estate, along with James Macdonald and James Young, to Robert Barr for 10s; includes property [21]. [7]

 1 January 1842: Counted on the census: James Macdonald (owner, occupier); stone house, completed. [8]

19 January 1846: James Young conveyed his share to James Macdonald for £180; includes property [21]. [9]

 1 January 1848: Counted on the census: James Macdonald (owner, occupier); stone house, completed. [10]

17 August 1850: James Macdonald, free to colony, aged 48, read and write well. Charged on information of the District Constable with Breach of the Act in Council 11th Vic No. 7. Pleaded not guilty. Found guilty and fined 10s. [11]

25 September 1850: "Crown Inn and Store to Let."
CROWN INN AND STORE TO LET... The Inn, including the Store, consists of fifteen apartments, two of which are 25 x 13 feet; besides a detached kitchen with double ovens; bakehouse, with large oven, baking trough, flour bins, &c; butchers' shop, killing shed, granary, stabling for sixteen horses, a pump, well, and good garden... [12]

16 February 1853: Licence to retail wine and spirits transferred from James Macdonald to William Moyes. [13]

26 December 1854: Licence to retail wine and spirits granted to William Moyes. [14]

18 May 1858: William Moyes (occupier), James Macdonald (owner); public-house; annual rateable value £80. [15]

10 July 1860: Mortgage discharged, £400 paid in full. [16]

15 November 1864: William Moyes (occupier), Mrs Ann Macdonald (owner); public-house, out-buildings; annual rateable value £70. [17]

3 February 1874: William Moyes (occupier), executors of Mrs Ann Macdonald (owner); public-house; annual rateable value £50. [18]

9 February 1875: "Auction."
AUCTION... The following valuable property - The large and substantially built stone premises in the township of Bothwell, known as the CROWN INN, now and for many years in the occupation of Mr Moyes at a rental of £80 per annum. [19]

22 March 1875: Executors for James Macdonald conveyed to Henry Fortenam Nichols for £550. [20]

19 August 1875: "Real Property Act Notices" - Henry Fortenam Nichols.
REAL PROPERTY ACT... BOTHWELL - 2 roods 1 perch. Originally granted to Thomas Young. HENRY FORTENAM NICHOLS (Application 1623). [21]

1 April 1876: Certificate of Title registered to Henry Fortenam Nichols, licensed victualler. [22]

4 December 1876: Licence to retail wine and spirits transferred from the late William Moyes to Henry Fortenam Nichols. [23]

30 January 1877: Henry Fortenam Nichols (owner, occupier); public-house; annual rateable value £40. [24]

9 October 1877: "To Let."
TO LET, the Crown Inn, Bothwell, doing a first-class business. The only reason for the proprietor letting, leaving public business... [25]

2 February 1882: "Bothwell" - Henry F. Nichols charged.
BOTHWELL. POLICE OFFICE. Henry F. Nichols, proprietor of the Crown Inn, was charged, on complaint of the Superintendent of Police, with a breach of the Licensing Act. Defendant pleaded not guilty. Mr Perkins gave his evidence, which clearly proved the case. Mr Nichols having no witness to call, the Bench at once found him guilty, and stated that they thought it would have been much better, under the circumstances, had he pleaded guilty, in which opinion Mr Nichols seemed to concur. Fined £2, and 8s 6d costs. [26]

12 June 1882: "Crown Inn" - New publican.
CROWN INN, BOTHWELL. The undersigned, having taken the above Hotel, respectfully solicits the patronage of his friends and the public in general, and trusts by civility and attention to merit their favour. Letters and telegrams attended to. John Edwards, Proprietor. June, 1882. [27]

30 December 1882: Transferred from Henry Fortenam Nichols to Simon Arnett & Henry New as trustees for 5s; includes property [12]. [22]

20 February 1883: John Edwards (occupier), Henry Fortenam Nichols (owner); public-house; annual rateable value £60. [28]

5 June 1883: Certificate of Title registered to Simon Arnett, council clerk, and Henry New, farmer, Spring Bay. [29]

16 February 1886: John Edwards (occupier), Mrs Mary Nichols (owner); public-house; annual rateable value £60 [30]

27 April 1888: Licence to retail wine and spirits transferred from John Edwards to Henry Fortenam Nichols and Charles Albert Nichols. [31]

10 July 1888: Mrs Rebecca Sharp (occupier, inserted), Mrs Mary Ann Nichols (owner); public-house; annual rateable value £60. [32]

10 July 1888: John Edwards (occupier, erased), Mrs Mary Nichols (owner); public-house; annual rateable value £60. [33]

26 July 1888: Licence to retail wine and spirits granted to Mrs Rebecca Sharp. [34]

22 November 1889: Licence to retail wine and spirits granted to Nicholas Carroll Paul. [35]

14 January 1890: Nicholas Carroll Paul (occupier), Mrs Mary Nichols' trustees (owner); public-house; annual rateable value £65. [36]

3 May 1890: "Country News" - Billiard room completed.
COUNTRY NEWS, BOTHWELL. Since I last wrote re improvements on the township, another one has just been completed by Mr N. C. Paul, of the Crown Hotel, in the shape of a fine billiard-room, which has been furnished and fitted up in grand style, with one of Alcock's full-sized tables, so that commercial and other gentlemen who are fond of billiards can now cannon away to their hearts content. The building, I may add, was erected by Mr C. A. Nichols, one of our local builders. [37]

13 June 1892: "Fire at Bothwell" - Destruction of the Crown Hotel.
FIRE AT BOTHWELL. DESTRUCTION OF THE CROWN HOTEL. NARROW ESCAPE OF INMATES.
At a little before 4 o’clock on Saturday morning, the 11th June 1892, the Crown Hotel, kept by Mr Paul, and owned by Mr H. F. Nichols, was discovered to be in flames. The outbreak is supposed to have originated in the back part of the premises, and no doubt was accidental. The wind was blowing very hard at the time, so that the place was soon a wreck, and it was by the greatest effort that the family and the lodgers - there being three commercial travellers staying in the hotel at the time - escaped with their lives. Great sympathy prevails for Mr Paul, who has lost everything he possessed, including the clothing of himself and family. None of his property was insured. Much sympathy is also felt for Mr Nichols, who, I am told, is also uninsured. Mr Williams, traveller for Messrs R. Miller and Co., of this city, who was one of the three travellers lodging at the Crown Hotel on Friday night, has given us some additional particulars. He says that shortly after 11 o’clock he and Mr Westbrook retired to their room, and were soon asleep. At 10 minutes to 4 they were aroused by a violent knocking at the door, and the cry of “Fire!” and they heard Mr Paul, the landlord, calling on them to rouse up quickly. Hurrying on some of their clothes, they got out into the passage, and found that the way downstairs was already blocked by flames, and they were in a serious predicament and retreated to their room again, and contemplated the possibility of dropping out of the window a distance of 35ft as the only chance of saving their lives. However, good fortune prevailed; a sudden change of wind sent the flames swirling away from the staircase for a brief interval, and they managed to get down to the ground floor and into the open just as the back part of the house was falling, leaving the greater part of their clothes and their jewellery in the bedroom. Mr Sydney Smith, traveller far Messrs Dodgshun, of Launceston, also managed to escape with a few burns about the hands, face and neck, and the loss of most of his clothes and personal effects. His buggy, which was in a shed at the rear of the hotel, was also destroyed, but he managed to save his samples and his horse. The origin of the fire is unknown, but it apparently broke out somewhere near the billiard-room, though Mr Paul, who went to bed at 11.30, asserts that everything appeared safe at that hour. Mr Williams desires to thank, on behalf of himself and fellow travellers, Mr Nichols, the owner of the premises, Mr and Mrs Wheeler, Mrs Simmons and Miss Hale, who provided them with clothing, and displayed other kindnesses in their emergency. [38]

13 June 1892: "Fire."
FIRE. Mr J. B. Paul, grocer, New Market, this morning received a telegram from Bothwell, announcing that his brother, Mr N. C. Paul, had been burned out early this morning, and the inmates of the house had barely escaped with their lives. The house occupied by Mr Paul is the Crown Inn, Bothwell, at which he has resided some three years. No information is yet to hand as to the origin of the fire, or any other particulars. [39]

27 June 1892: "Bothwell" - Rebuild progressing after fire.
BOTHWELL. The Crown Hotel, which was lately destroyed by fire, is being re-built, and I am informed that the work is under the sole management of Mr Robert James, of Bridgewater. The work will be pushed forward as quickly as possible, and no time will be lost in placing at the disposal of its patrons the accommodation which the "Old Crown Hotel" always afforded them. In the meantime the magistrates have granted Mr Paul permission to sell under his license in a building situate not far from the site of the old Crown, which belongs to Mr William Sealy, and hitherto known as "The Bothwell Bazaar." [40]

26 November 1892: "Crown Hotel" - Rebuilt after fire.
CROWN HOTEL, BOTHWELL. The undersigned begs to inform his numerous patrons that the above Hotel has been rebuilt and newly furnished throughout, with a special view to the comfort of Private Families, Lake Parties, and others; Bath, Bed, and Dining Rooms; new Billiard Table, by Alcock. Also, Sample Room. Royal Mail Coach leaves and arrives daily. NB: Special arrangements made with parties desiring to visit Lake. Horses and Vehicles always on hand. N. C. PAUL, Proprietor. [41]

28 March 1899: Nicholas Carroll Paul (occupier), Henry Fortenam Nichols (owner); capital value £900; annual rateable value £60. [42]

1914: Listed on the Electoral Roll - Frederick William Dalco, hotel proprietor; Annie Isabel Dalco, domestic duties. [43]

3 November 1914: Frederick William Dalco (occupier), Henry Fortenam Nichols (owner); hotel; annual rateable value £60. [44]

1919: Listed on the Electoral Roll - Arthur Lambert Shaw, labourer; Ethel Kate Shaw, home duties. [45]

4 March 1919: Arthur Lambert Shaw (occupier), Henry Fortenam Nichols (owner); public house; annual rateable value £65. [46]

26 March 1919: Estate of Simon Arnett transferred his share to Henry New. [29]

26 March 1919: Henry New transferred to Willie New James and Percy Edward Nichols for 5s in equity. [29]

Sources