Innkeeper needed!
Nestled among the rolling hills leading to the Blue Mountains, an original Cobb and Co Inn with a rich and spooky history, has just been listed for sale in Little Hartley.
Buyers looking for a slice of history with views stretching out to Mount York, can purchase the heritage Ambermere Inn. It has been in the one family since the 1990s.
Listed on December 6 through Hartley Realty & Lifestyle Properties, the 5.2 acre property is on the corner of the Great Western Highway and Ambermere Drive and just five kilometres from Mt Victoria.
Hartley Realty spokeswoman, Elise O'Neill, said the property was an integral part of local history with spectacular regional views - "the kind of place that can't be replicated".
Originally known as The Rose Inn, it was built in 1845 by Joseph Collits, son of Pierce who was the first innkeeper over the Blue Mountains.
On the main carriageway between Sydney and the Central West, the historic building is one of Australia's oldest inns. The four bedroom sandstone building was built to resemble the classic Georgian style architecture. It originally had 13 outbuildings including its own flour mill, stables and blacksmith shop.
The current owners or "custodians" Fiona Richardson and Megs Black are off to the mid north coast town of Bellingen. Ms Richardson's family has owned the property since the 1990s and she did a sympathetic restoration to bring it back to its roots. She has been the innkeeper since 2010.
"It has a connection with Collits' Inn at Hartley Vale because the Collits built both of them, when Mt Victoria Pass opened in the 1830's Collits wanted to capture that passing trade," owner Fiona Richardson said.
While currently closed, Ambermere has been a popular wedding and private function venue. It has a liquor licence, shopfront, restaurant with commercial kitchen and has been a well-loved live music venue. The converted machinery shed includes an additional service kitchen, cool room, a stage, and can seat 100 people, the agent said.
In the 1860s Ambermere had the valuable Cobb and Co coach contract from Sydney to Bathurst and became the main coaching stopover. It was once owned by the local police magistrate, acted as the Hartley courthouse until one was built, and it's also reputed to have its own ghost.
Ms Richardson told the Lithgow Mercury in 2019 she had come across the souls that inhabit the inn, possibly the ghost of Victoria Pass, Caroline Collits.
"Before I came here I didn't believe in ghosts but there's definitely a presence in this house," she said.
There is potential for Airbnb, subject to council approval. Phone (02) 6355 2002 to arrange a private inspection.
