Paragon Hotel

Alfred and Loftus Street

A. Imperial Quart. Clear glass, applied top. Rare with "1923" embossed on front: "W.H.WATSON'S BOTTLING DEPT PARAGON HOTEL CIRCULAR QUAY SYDNEY 1923". (see close-up below).

Note: Embossed near base with "1919" or no dates at all - common.

B. Imperial Pint. As above, but no embossed date.

Close-up of A. (as above). Embossed "1923" on front, just above base. Rare.

Four ounce spirit bottle (shaped like a coffee essence bottle). Clear or amethyst glass, applied top. Rare. Embossed on front: "W.H.WATSON WINE & SPIRIT STORE CIRCULAR QUAY".

A. Eight ounce spirit bottle (larger coffee essence shape). Amethyst glass, applied top. Rare. Also available in clear glass. Embossed on front: "1/- RUM 1/-". On back: "W.H. WATSONS BOTTLE DEPT CITY". 

B. Amethyst 4 ounce spirit bottle (coffee essence shape). Clear glass, applied top. Rare. Embossed on front: "6d RUM 6d". On back: "W.H.WATSONS BOTTLE DEPT CITY".

Clear 4 ounce spirit bottle (coffee essence shape). As above.

Imperial Quart with paper label.

Close-up of label as below. Rare.

Left: W.H. Watson two gallon Demi-john. Wickerware surround. Extremely rare. Right: Close-up of ink stamp.

Above, bottom:

Left: Base of wickerware surround. Right: Close-up of burned-wood lettering as found on center of base.

Two gallon Demi-john without wickerware. Extremely rare.

Property of Col Wise.

Built by Anthony Hordern, the Paragon Hotel opened on March 15, 1860. The first licensee was Mrs. Catherine Brown. In 1868, Mr. R.Q. Watson (born April 1, 1839 in Halifax, Canada) became the second licensee.

Watson's father, John, was a shipbuilder in Halifax. At the same time R.Q. Watson was educated in Halifax at the Acadian School. R.Q. graduated and worked with the newspaper The Christian Messenger, where he remained until 1859. With desire to see the world and do better than his prospects in Halifax, he set out and eventually landed in Sydney on April 3, 1860. He started working with The Empire newspaper.

Started by Sir Henry Parkes, it was owned by Messrs Hanson and Bennett when Watson joined the ranks. He remained for eight years, until he was able to work independently as joint proprietor of the Christian Pleader newspaper. With Mr Alfred Allen, they also ran a general printing office in George Street. They were successful in these ventures and in 1868 Watson became proprietor of the Paragon Hotel.

He became a very respected and popular publican at the Quay, appealing to the higher classes. He was an ardent supporter of sports of all kinds, especially aquatic sports. He had deep interests in the wine and spirit trade and became President and Treasurer of the Licensed Victuallers' Association and the Trade Defense Association. He was successful in making several reforms to the licensing laws within his state.

Besides his business at Circular Quay, Watson had invested in gold, silver, copper, coal, tin and petroleum in NSW. He also had large investments in Queensland and New Zealand. He was associated with Sir Alexander Stuart and Sir Peter Scrotchley, and together they introduced to NSW the diamond drill bit used in mining.

He remained publican until his death on September 23, 1904. His son, W.H. Watson, then took over as licensee. The Paragon Hotel is still in operation today.

Mr. James H. Watson writes: In your issue headed "Banquet to Mr. W. H. Watson," it is stated that "Mr. Watson's father was the first licensee of the Paragon Hotel."

According to the newspapers of March 16, 1880, the credit should be given to "Mrs. Brown, formerly of the Hero of Waterloo," which house was on the corner of Windmill-street and Port-street.

The Paragon was built by Mr. Anthony Hordern, grandfather of Sir Samuel, and he gave a dinner in it to celebrate the opening on March 15, 1860. Mrs Catherine Brown being licensee and Mr. J. Murphy, the Mayor, being present.