Gilgandra’s very own ‘Royal Hotel’ is one of 73 venues across NSW to share the name, according to the latest data from Liquor and Gaming NSW.
A review of the state’s 2,112 licensed hotels revealed the top ten most popular names for such establishments; ‘Royal Hotel’ took the number one spot by a landslide, reflecting its iconic status in Aussie pub culture.
No matter where you go in NSW, you’ll never be far from a Royal Hotel, with 12 located in metropolitan areas, and 51 spread across regional NSW.
The enduring popularity of the ‘Royal’ moniker dates back to the 1950’s, with 43 new venues licensed with the name between 1958 and 1960 alone.
“Royal Hotel continues to reign supreme as the most popular pub name in NSW, maintaining its crown since Liquor & Gaming NSW last reported this data five years ago,” said Minister for Gaming and Racing David Harris.
“Its enduring popularity [stems from] the mid-1900s, a nod to Australia's deep historical and cultural connections to the UK.
"Pub names are more than a simple sign on a building; they are windows into our history, with the names a reflection of the industries, traditions, and people that have shaped our state.”
Variations such as Royal Oak, Royal Exchange, and Royal Mail bring the total number of ‘Royal’ pubs to an impressive 111.
‘Commercial Hotel’ takes second place with 34 venues across the state, with ‘Railway Hotel’ close behind in third with 20 venues.
Also in the top ten, from fourth, is the ‘Imperial Hotel’ with 19 venues, ‘Tattersalls Hotel’ with 13, ‘Grand Hotel’ with a grand 12 venues, and ‘Court House’ following with 11 in seventh. Rounding out the list in eight, ninth, and tenth, is ‘Australian Hotel’, ‘Central Hotel’, and ‘Star Hotel’, with 9, 8, and 7 venues respectively.
Historically, the term ‘hotel’ was used for many Australian pubs due to early liquor licensing laws, which required these establishments offer accommodation alongside the service of alcohol on premises.
