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History
Introduction
Since commencing to trade in September 1889, The Heritage Hotel Bulli (formerly "Bulli Family Hotel") has been an important part of the wider community of the Bulli township and surrounding areas.
The exterior Victorian design of the hotel, with decorated verandahs facing the Princes Highway and Stokes Lane, and it's dominance within the surrounding streetscape now makes the building a symbol of a previous prosperous era of the township as well as a landmark of the social development of the region.
Bulli: A Brief History
In 1770 when Captain James Cook sailed up the east coast of Australia, botanist Joseph Banks described the Bulli area as follows:
"The country today again made in slopes to the sea….The trees were very large and stood separate from each other without the least underwood; among them we could discern many cabbage trees but nothing else which we could call by any name. In the course of the night many fires were seen."
The derivation of the name "Bulli" seems to have been taken from the Aboriginal word thought to mean "two mountains".
The earliest form of industry in the Bulli area was the cedar-getters in about 1815. The cut timber was carted to the beach for shipment to Sydney or hauled up the Bulli pass for transportation via bullock train to Parramatta.
In 1836 much of the land in the Bulli area was sold to a Captain Robert Westmacott. He was involved in local industries including race horse breeding, founding the brickworks as well as cutting a superior access route down the Bulli mountain, which is today's Bulli Pass.
In 1850 Captain Westmacott successfully applied to open up the Bulli coal field for mining. Little mining took place here and the mine was eventually closed down.
In 1861 The Bulli and Bellambie Coal Company commenced mining operations in the area. The workings were connected to the seaboard by a standard gauge tramway that opened on 2nd June 1863.
On March 23rd 1887 a collapse in the Bulli mine killed 81 people. The Bulli Hotel was under construction at the time and officials used the cellar as a mortuary for the recovered bodies.
Mining activity continued in Bulli for 125 years, until 1987, when the mine was closed.
Historical Development Of The Bulli Hotel
The hotel was constructed by the building contractor Alex McDonald (who also had the contracts to construct the South Bulli and Bellambi Hotels) for a cost of 3,078 pounds.
The first stage of construction on the hotel was completed in August 1889. The premises was licensed as the "Bulli Family Hotel" on September 5th 1889 and the hotel opened the following day.
The owner of the building was George Croft and he leased the premises to William Tory Dickson for 9 years.
In February 1899 Croft sold the hotel to Frank Snudden who undertook extensions to the building in order to cater for "an increase in the number of cycling patrons visiting the area".
In April 1909 the hotel was sold to Mr Edmond Resch, managing director of Resch's Brewery Limited. Mr Resch commissioned additions to the southern side of the hotel, including extra bedrooms, a large brick entrance porch, a lounge bar and a large squat tower.
When completed, the tower was decorated with moulded cement trim work, proudly displaying "ER" (for Edmond Resch). Later the initials were changed to "KB" (for Kent Brewery)….
The surrounding areas thrived up until the coal depression in the 1920s drastically affected the area and the trade of the hotel.
In 1929 Resch's Limited was sold to Tooth and Company and so in June of that year the freehold of the hotel was also transferred to Tooth and Co.
On November 5th 1930 the publican Edward Cullen was found hanged in the bathroom on the first floor of the hotel.
He is believed to have committed suicide after an altercation with his wife. The story may explain the strange sounds and ghost like rattles still heard by some of those boarding at the hotel today...
The hotel has been altered and extended on a number of occasions to include a new cellar, a parlour adjoining the public bar, bathroom alterations, a beer garden, as well as the more recent refurbishment of the southern wing, culminating in the June 2004 opening of the Sapphire Lounge - the hotels renowned live music venue and restaurant.
The Hotels place in the community
Since it's construction, the Bulli Hotels architecture and fascade has been marveled at by many, however it's real heritage value lies in it's place in the social development of the Northern Illawarra escarpment.
In 1894, public meetings were held at the hotel to discuss the construction of the Bulli and Woonona Baths. Later that year the Bulli/Woonona Progress Committee was formed at the hotel.
In 1908, at a meeting at the hotel, the districts first Rugby Union Football Club was formed (their colours were maroon and white). The Illawarra Mercury also records that in that year the hotel hosted a meeting that initiated the Bulli Surf Club.
During the 1950's and 60's the Hotel was used by various community groups as a venue for meetings etc, including the Bulli Show Committee and trots and greyhound meetings for racing at Kembla Grange, Dapto and Wollongong.
To this day, many local organizations and groups have benefited from the hotels hospitality and sponsorships, including the Colts Rugby League, Shamrocks Rugby Union, Sandon Point Surf Club and Sandon Point Soccer Club, and the Illawarra Folk Festival.
more info at Australian Beers
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