13. Grab an Ale

The Surveyor General Inn – The Surveyor General Inn was built in 1834 for James Harper, using convict labour, and licensed as an inn the following year.

Remaining in the Harper family for almost one hundred years, The Surveyor General is the oldest continuously licensed inn in Australia. The main building, constructed of local convict-hewn sandstone and sand stock bricks, has served as both a pub and accommodation for over a century and a half. The Harper family held the licence for almost 100 years. The Inn came close to closing a few years before its most prosperous period in 1960 when the Licensing Court ordered extensive alterations. The original building had fallen into disrepair by the middle of this century, and efforts were made to preserve it.

The current owners of the Surveyor General (the Durney family), have extensively restored and redeveloped the inn. Their work has been recognised by the Australian Hotel Association’s Award for Excellence for Best Redeveloped Hotel – Country in 1997, and in 2007 they won the Award for Excellence – Best Heritage Hotel.

Enjoy cleansing cold ale at one of the pubs historical bars or a meal in the “Bushrangers” Bistro.

A trip to the Southern Highlands would not be complete without visiting Berrima and the historic Surveyor General Inn.

Did you know: There once existed 14+ Inns/hotels in Berrima! The only one still in operation (never been closed) is the Surveyor General Inn

Address:  26 old Hume Highway, Berrima (opposite the Berrima Motel)
Open:  Hotel: Mon – Sat 11am –  midnight
Sunday / Public Holidays 11am –  10pm
Bistro: Sun–Fri 12-2.30pm; 5-8.30pm Sat all day
Website:  www.surveyorgeneralinn.com.au
Phone:  02 4877 1226

Posted in 52 Things to do around Berrima.