Alan spoke about the history of the Bomaderry Hotel, which began life as the Snudden’s Family Tourist Hotel. 

The first move to open a hotel in Bomaderry was in 1896, three years after the railway arrived.

Opposition from various quarters meant that the application was rejected and it was not until 1902 that a licence was granted for a Hotel which was to be run by Mr Frank Snudden.

Snudden’s advertising in Sydney papers invited tourists to his “superb hotel of 50 rooms” stating that “it is replete with every comfort, hot baths, fishing, shooting billiards etc”.

The 1916 Waratah Recruiting March, which started in Nowra, made its first stop beside the hotel. 

In 1917 the furniture was sold and the licence not renewed. 

In 1918 the hotel was rebadged The South Coast Red Cross Convalescent Home and 909 wounded and ill soldiers passed through its doors.

In the early 1920s the building was purchased by William Charles Parkes who was granted a licence and Hotel Bomaderry came into existence.

Over the years licensees came and went and the hotel was renovated a number of times as evidenced by photos which Alan circulated.