our story

The Moss Vale Hotel holds a special place in local history as the first licensed venue in Moss Vale. Its story began around 1866 when Martin Larkin, who had previously run The Briars at Bong Bong, secured the hotel’s first licence. For the next decade, Larkin remained at the helm, shaping the early character of this beloved establishment.

Martin Larkin must have known a thing or two because this was the period when Moss Vale really started to boom. With the railway on its way, Moss Vale was on the cusp of transformation, bringing new opportunities for both rural expansion and commercial development.

Remarkably, the Moss Vale Hotel still stands on the same site as the original. Though the present-day structure has evolved, the original building was also a two-storey design—albeit with a thatched roof. Back in the 1860s, there were no neighbouring buildings; instead, the hotel was surrounded by open paddocks and even had its own stables for weary travelers and their horses

When the railway station first opened in 1867, it wasn’t even called Moss Vale—it was known as Sutton Forest. At the time, travelers looking for refreshments had to stop in Mittagong, where the first refreshment rooms were located. However, that soon changed when the Governor of New South Wales, The Earl of Belmore, took up residence in Sutton Forest. To better suit his needs, the refreshment rooms were relocated to Moss Vale, cementing the town’s growing importance along the railway line.

In 1869, the pub got a bit of a makeover—not just in spirit, but in name too. Rebranded as the Terminus Hotel (a nod to the newly arrived railway), it embraced its role as a hub for travelers and locals alike. But the story didn’t end there. Somewhere along the way, it shed its railway-inspired name and took on a more regal identity, becoming The Royal.

Moss Vale’s Old Post Office has been a fixture of the town since 1871, standing proudly opposite the railway station. A few decades later, in 1897, the town celebrated Queen Victoria’s reign with the addition of a grand fountain. But history wasn’t done with it yet. In 1936, the local Returned Soldiers’ Organisation gave the fountain a new purpose, transforming it into a war memorial to honour those lost in the First World War. The finishing touch? A striking Clock Tower perched on top. Today, this iconic landmark remains one of Moss Vale’s most beloved features.

Moss Vale’s most iconic watering hole goes by a few names, but whether you call it the 'The Pinky' or 'The Pub at the Clocktower,' one thing’s for sure—it’s a local legend. With its vibrant charm and prime spot in town, it’s been the go-to place for a pint and a story for generations.