The land that The Lucky Hotel sits on was originally part of a grant from The Crown to the Australian Agricultural Company in 1847.
The Bank of Australasia purchased some of the land in 1854, for a mere £1500 (Approximately $2,700. Those were the days). The Bank then built “a very imposing building” with stables and accommodation at the rear, imaginatively named The Bank Hotel.
Mr. Jesse Ireland purchased The Bank Hotel and its land at auction for £2,750 in 1877. He promptly demolished The Bank Hotel to make way for a large development housing the district’s leading produce wholesaler. The new development included a large store, an office, a warehouse complex, two additional shops and residences fronting Hunter St. The expansion also included a new hotel named The Oxford Hotel located on the eastern side of the premises. This store and warehouse complex was considered the most modern of its kind in the district utilising the latest steam power and mechanical technology for handling, storing and delivering bulk produce.
Mr Ireland died suddenly in 1887, but his business continued to flourish, employing approximately 80 local people.
As walls sadly can’t talk and the history books are quiet, the next we hear of The Oxford Hotel is in 1926, when it was remodelled, and the lease of the hotel went up for public auction at a cost of £14,750. The successful bidder was Tooth and Company Limited (Tooths), one of two Sydney metropolitan breweries that dominated the production and sale of beer in the 20th century. In 1934, Tooths successfully negotiated to purchase the hotel for over £30,000, before selling it in 1977 to local wine and spirit merchants, Peter Doyle and Sons Pty Ltd. They re-named it The Lucky Country Hotel.
Doyle’s retained the hotel for 25 years until the parties ceased and the doors closed in 2002. Newbridge Hotel Group Pty. Ltd. purchased the site in 2003. It was left to mothball, and by 2007, the hotel was once again placed on the market and submitted to auction. The McCloy Group, a local property developer, purchased the Hotel in 2008, and restored the building. It reopened in 2014 as ‘The Lucky’.
McCloy sisters, Blake Nash and Hayley Van de Stadt (nee McCloy) took full control of running The Lucky in 2016, before selling to Martin Scott (current owner) in 2021. Tilley and Wills were awarded the management contract in 2022, and have undertaken another extensive renovation, to bring an eclectic Palm Springs vibe to the vibrant Eastern wing of Newcastle.
Who we are
Enjoy a warm Palm Springs-style welcome at The Lucky Hotel. Embrace our relaxed, anything-goes vibe, where a ray of sunshine will radiate on even the rainiest day in Newcastle.
Whether you are looking to relax after work with a quick pint, dance until dawn to live music, or join the ladies who lunch at the weekend, there is a nook for every local at The Lucky.
With a rich history of entertainment, there is never a dull moment in our luscious green courtyard. With weekly trivia, big screens for the latest sport, regular live music and weekend DJs, we can offer you a great excuse to escape the mundanity of home every day of the week.
The Lucky Hotel is a great local pub at heart and the drinks range reflects that. From top-quality cold draught beer, an extensive wine list of Hunter Valley favourites to mouth-watering fruity cocktails, one of the best times to visit us is happy hour, every weekday from 4pm to 6pm.
No resort escape would be complete without an extensive range of freshly prepared and delicious food to feast upon. With all food freshly prepared on site, we are able to cater for most dietary requirements, whilst bearing in mind that we cannot guarantee an allergen-free kitchen.
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