The Courthouse Hotel has marked 150 years at the heart of Tamworth, celebrating a history that stretches back to 1876.
Over a century and a half, Tamworth has changed enormously around it. The Courthouse has lived through floods, economic downturns, and, more recently, the disruption of COVID. Through it all, the pub has remained a familiar part of the local community.
For Harvest Hospitality, which acquired the Courthouse in 2016, the milestone is a reminder of both the enduring role of pubs in Australian communities and the resilience of hospitality.
To mark the anniversary, we’ve been digging through the archives to share some of the stories, photographs and characters that have shaped the Courthouse over the past 150 years.
“For 150 years, people have met here for a beer after work, celebrated milestones and caught up with old friends. There’s plenty of local stories that would have started right here at the Courthouse. We want this anniversary to recognise that history and the people who’ve made the Courthouse a Tamworth institution,” said Harvest Co-founder and Chief Development Officer Fraser Haughton.
While plenty has changed since the Courthouse first opened its doors, the fundamental role of the pub has endured. It remains a place for people to meet, eat, celebrate and connect.
The anniversary also comes as the Courthouse enters its next chapter, with Head Chef Jarrod Smith joining the team and a new menu now being served at the pub.
7NEWS joined us in Tamworth as we marked the milestone, speaking with Fraser about the Courthouse’s history, the challenges facing hospitality and what it takes for a pub to continue evolving after 150 years.
