The Best Pubs in Sydney for a Deliciously Historic Experience

Beer and Sydney go a long way back. Historically, Sydney has always been a sailor town. And, with sailors around, there will always be a watering hole somewhere around. It is most evident in The Rocks, the oldest part of this port city. 

Till about the 1830s, there were no alcohol laws. Anyone and everyone could sell drinks. When alcohol laws were put in place, the places selling alcoholic beverages came to be known as public houses. As per the new stipulations, the owner needed to live on the premises, and a dining room was also required for meals. Australians have a penchant for nicknames. Thus, these public houses came to be known as pubs. That is how the love affair started between the Sydneysiders and their pubs. 

What’s more, the weather in Sydney is ideally suited to drinking beer. Weather always plays a part in one’s choice of a drink. Sydney has a predominantly sunny climate with warm summers and mild winters. And, a hot summer day is always perfect for a lager as well as sour beer. 

Here are a few of the old-school pubs in Sydney, where you could enjoy your favorite beverage when the temperatures are soaring. 

The Lord Nelson Brewery Hotel

This place has been serving beers since the 1840s. It happens to be the oldest licensed hotel in Sydney. William Wells, the founder, turned his residence into a hostel. The sandstone building with three floors has still retained most of its original architecture. Inside there have been some major changes. In the 1980s and the 1990s, the establishment added a brewery inside the premises. It sells a large number of in-house as well as international brews. The menu is mostly Australian cuisine, and as the name suggests, it has decent accommodations as well.

Fortune of War

This place has a very interesting past. It was built in 1828, and locals say that this is the oldest hotel in the city. But, what is even more interesting is that it was built by a former convict. A local brewery called Tooth & Co bought this property in the 1920s. Since then, it has given the place a few renovations. That, however, has not taken anything away from its historical feel. It has close connections to the Australian Army, and you are sure to get a sense of its 200-year-old history when you visit the place. 

The Australian Heritage Hotel

This Edwardian pub dates back to 1824. The government had to demolish the building in the 1900s due to a plague outbreak. Initially, the pub was located on George Street. Later it was shifted to Cumberland Street, where it still stands. Check out the Coat of Arms pizza if you feel like trying out something new. It has Kangaroo and Emu meat. 

The Hero of Waterloo

At the corner of Miller’s Point stands this 170-year-old watering hole. The place owes its name to the Duke of Wellington. The Fortune of War was owned by a convict. The Duke was built by convicts. The old sandstone building dates back to the 1840s, and if you are a mystery lover, you are in for a treat. This is the most haunted pub in all of Australia. Legend says that the trap door was used to force sailors to join a ship’s crew. 

Furthermore, the ghost of Anne Kirkman does the rounds as well. She was a publican’s wife who was murdered at the pub. The place isn’t very large, and you will see its patrons hanging out on the streets as well. 

Harts Pub

This pub is from the colonial era and only serves craft beers now. Like many other pubs in Sydney, it was formerly a residential building. It has more than ten rotating taps and serves fresh beer from a couple of hand pumps. It has gone through some ownership changes and is now considered to be one of the premium pubs that serve boutique beer. 

Horse & Jockey Hotel

Located on the historic Parramatta Road since 1809, it was initially known as the Half Way House Hotel. The reason? Before motor vehicles took over Australia, travelers on horses needed to stop for refreshments midway. This area was the midway point between Sydney and Parramatta. The pub has gone through several other names. But, today, it serves the public in its latest avatar, the Jockey Club Hotel. 

Notice how many of these pubs are also hotels? That is because pubs, by law, are required to have accommodation for guests. So the next time you are in Sydney looking for a cold one, be sure to check these places out and discover even more interesting facts.