Junee Hotel & The Railway Story | Historic Railway Hotel
Built by Rail. Shaped by Travel. Still welcoming today.
Junee Hotel stands as one of Junee NSW’s most important heritage landmarks, deeply connected to the rise of the railway, the growth of the Riverina and the movement of travellers, workers and communities across regional New South Wales. Originally established in 1878 as the Railway Hotel, Junee Hotel was strategically built during one of Australia’s most significant railway expansion eras, when Junee became a critical junction linking Sydney, Melbourne and the wider Riverina.
From the beginning, Junee Hotel was more than a pub - it was a gateway for rail workers, travellers, farmers, business operators and visitors arriving in Junee during the golden age of steam.
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Year
1876
Railway Milestone
Christopher Crawley buys land near planned Main South railway route.
Junee Hotel & Heritage story
Crawley subdivides townsite in anticipation of the line, planning a hotel to serve the new railway settlement.
6 July 1878
3 Sep 1878
1881
1882
Junee station opens as temporary terminus of Main South line from Bethungra.
January - Railway Hotel opens as Junee’s first commercial building, before bank, post office or bakery. Built by Crawley opposite the station. Serves as railway ticket office before station facilities complete.
Hotel serves railway crews, passengers and workers; acts as unofficial railway office before permanent station facilities.
Line extends from Junee Junction to Bomen (North Wagga).
Hay/Narrandera branch opens from Junee; station renamed Junee Junction.
Original timber rail station burns down.
Railway Hotel becomes social hub for junction crews servicing Main South and western branches.
Hotel continues as main refreshment and accommodation point near the line.
1883 - 1885
John Whitton designs new brick station; opens 5 March 1885 with refreshment rooms.
Railway Hotel shares passenger trade with new on‑station facilities but remains town’s premier pub.
1880's
decade
Workshops move from Wagga to Junee; town grows as major rail centre.
Hotel hosts expanding railway workforce, commercial travellers and locals; early editions of Southern Cross newspaper printed in shed at back.
1884
Crawley sells hotel to fund Monte Cristo Homestead.
Crawley sells Railway Hotel to fund Monte Cristo Homestead construction - “Australia’s most haunted house” overlooking Junee.
1908
Mrs E. O’Donnell, licensee, advertises Railway Hotel’s wines, spirits and stabling for railway horses.
1911 -
1912
Original hotel replaced by current Art Nouveau/Federation Filigree building, designed by William Monks for Mrs E. O’Donnell. High ceilings, cast iron details reflect railway boom.
1920
Hotel cycles through ~10 licensees, including “Condon’s Railway Hotel” (c.1921–1923)
1930's
Hotel hosts first Light Horse Brigade meetings & serves passengers on Main South expresses.
1940's
Introduction of Southern Aurora & Southern Highlands passenger services that connect Junee with major cities, increasing tourism.
30 April, 1946, The Railway Hotel changed it's name to Junee Hotel.
Hotel continues as railway town landmark.
1943 -
1947
Junee roundhouse (42‑road loco depot) construction begins; opens Sep 1947 - largest in southern hemisphere.
Hotel serves roundhouse crews and junction traffic at height of steam era.
1950's
Expansion of the roundhouse and servicing facilities due to increased rail traffic post-WWII.
Hotel accommodates crews during roundhouse peak.
1960's
Dieselisation; steam facilities (coal stages, ash pits) removed from roundhouse.
Hotel adapts to changing rail workforce.
1993
Junee locomotive depot closes as State Rail facility.
Junee shifts to rail heritage tourism.
1994
Roundhouse leased by Junee Council; becomes Junee Roundhouse Railway Museum + commercial workshop.
2020's
Junee Roundhouse Railway Museum thrives;
XPT and NSW TrainLink services continue.
Reynolds family restore hotel.