The history of the Travellers Arms.....
The ruins of the Travellers Arms (Inn) are located near the present day Lakes Road -house, at the junction of the Great Eastern and Great Southern Highways. The inn was built c.1855, on land purchased by Robert Doncon near Manaring Lake. Doncon had previously operated Halfway House, an Inn on Ensign Dale's original route to York, surveyed by Phillip Chauncy in 1846. However, in 1849, Chauncy's route and Doncon's Halfway House Inn were by-passed by the newly surveyed "King Dick's Road" to York, a route paid for by discontented York settlers. It was on this new York Road that Doncon built and operated the Travellers Rest Inn. However, in January 1857, probably as a result of simultaneously operating the Travellers Rest and Kings Head in York, Doncon advertised the former for sale or lease. Lessee Henry Horton purchased the inn outright in 1858. After some refurbishments, it became known as Horton's Halfway House. In November 1860, the Inn was the location for the capture of escaped bushranger James Lilly. As she passed through in 1863, visiting Parson's wife Mrs Edward Millet, described Halfway House as a "Primitive sort of house, and in the sitting room to which I was shown were great sofas, suggesting the idea that they often served for beds". Between 1876 and January 1880, Horton was responsible for carrying the mail to and from York.
The advent of the Eastern Railway, which reached Chidlow's Well in March 1884 and York in June 1885, heralded the end of the importance of Halfway House and other York Road Inns which supplied travellers' needs. JM Barnes made an attempt to revive the Inn in 1918, but it finally closed after it was partially destroyed by bushfires in the later 1920's and early 1930's. A 1939 sketch by DL Cummings shows the Inn in a dilapidated, though retrievable condition. At present, the site is a ruin.
The owners have advised Council that they have further historic information available (letter to council dated 13th June 1996).
Thank you to Ian and David Elliot for sending in the great photo!
Information courtesy of State Heritage Council of WA
