Built in 1890 the Imperial Hotel in Rooty Hill has quite a story. Imagine crowds arriving by train for the greyhound races at nearby Plumpton. The Imperial Hotel was there to serve them. F J Weston opened this two-story building on August 12 1890. Rooty Hill was then part of St Mary’s Parish. The area had a history. It was a government cattle reserve. Prominent landowners like Walter Lamb were present. Lamb established a cannery and fruit preserving works. Dr Charles Mackay grew wine nearby.
The Great Western Railway fueled Rooty Hill’s growth. The railway station served vineyards and the cannery. A public school opened in 1875. The School of Arts hosted Blacktown Council’s first meeting in 1906. Blacktown became a shire that same year. The Imperial Hotel thrived early on. Coursing a form of greyhound racing drew crowds to Lamb’s Woodstock Coursing Track. This was a community hub. However business declined. The beer license transferred to Wallacia in 1936.
The Imperial Hotel became a wine bar owned by Penfolds Wines. It fell into disrepair by the 1970s. A dentist bought it in 1977. The building was boarded up. The National Trust classified it in 1976. A PCO followed in 1981. Building applications were submitted in 1981-82. The hotel reopened in 1982. A single-story extension was added around 1995. This filled in a courtyard. A pepper tree near North Parade is estimated to be 40 to 50 years old. The entry foyer was renovated in 1987. Accommodation was converted into office space in 1990. More restoration work took place in 1995.
The Imperial Hotel is a significant architectural landmark. It remains a social gathering place. This corner hotel is two stories tall. It’s made of brick and cement render. It has a verandah with cast iron lace balustrading and cast iron columns. A beer garden is southwest alongside North Avenue. There’s car parking to the north facing Rooty Hill Road. Much of the original building fabric survives. This includes a timber staircase several fireplaces and decorative plasterwork. The Imperial Hotel was listed on the New South Wales State Heritage Register on April 2 1999. It stands as a testament to Rooty Hill’s history. It continues to welcome patrons.