The Peel Inn is a gold rush pub. It was built by William McIlveen in 1860 after the discovery of the precious metal at Hanging Rock. William hoped to grow prosperous as prospectors spent their money in his establishment. Unfortunately, it didn’t work out as planned. Not long after opening his pub, he lost it in a card game.
The new owner was John Schofield. Today, fourth generation publican Robert Schofield has run the hotel for the past 53 years with his wife Margaret. The Peel Inn has been a friendly drinking hole for locals and a welcoming destination for travellers for more than 150 years.
The hotel is in the must-see village of Nundle. What Nundle lacks in size, it makes up for in personality. This small, historic mining village of 300 people is nestled between the Peel River and Great Dividing Rage in the New England region of NSW. It’s a 4.5-hour drive north-west of Sydney along the New England Highway and a 7.5-hour drive south of Brisbane. It’s also a 55-minute drive from Tamworth Regional Airport.