According to the heritage impact statement, as part of the development application the works have the potential to improve the contribution the hotel makes to the street's character.

"The refurbished verandas will positively impact on understanding the historical significance of the hotel, for Kew and the region," the document outlines.

"Overall, the proposed upgrade and redevelopment works will not impact on the heritage significance of the Kew Royal Hotel."

Kew Royal Hotel co-owner Scott Coman said the community should be excited about the renovations, as the building will be restored to celebrate its significant contribution through history.

He said the hotel has required an update for a number of years and it's planned to be a staged development.

Construction on the building is expected to commence around May, 2021.

According to information published by the Kendall Heritage Society, the Kew Royal Hotel was first known as 'The Stables' in 1891 and was owned by George Perkins.

In 1893, JJ George a dentist owned a consulting room at the 'Stables'. Patrick Keough had the stagecoach station on this site. It was situated on the eastern side of the hotel in 1898.

Its purpose was to provide a changeover place for horses that were drawing coaches from Taree to Port Macquarie. Bill Convery held the mail and stagecoach contract in 1899 for services between Port Macquarie and Taree.

The last coach service left Taree northbound on February 31, 1913.

A liquor licence was granted to Mr Stanton at Kew Royal Hotel on October 16, 1894 and the first beer was served on October 9.

In 1895 George Perkins and Mary Ann Adkins were the owners. Mary's husband was a boat builder on the Camden River. George and Mary extended and renovated the hotel in 1898 and sold the premises later in that year, to Mr Henry Forster.

Ownership changed several times and was later purchased by Mrs Eliza Greig in 1924.

The business temporarily moved next door when the hotel partially burnt down in 1925.

A newspaper article published by the Manning River Times in May 1925 said the fire could be seen from Taree.

"It is thought the fire started in a room at the back of the bar," the article states.

"The building, which contained 20 rooms, was a mass of ruins in about an hour and a half.

"A few articles of furniture and cases of beer were saved.

"A dog, which was in a room, was cut off by the flames and perished."

The hotel was rebuilt in 1926 and Eliza sold to Samuel Myer Mendelson in 1927.

The hotel was hit hard again by another blaze in 1940.

According to an article in the Macleay Chronicle published in January, 1940 the fire destroyed five lock-up garages at the Kew Hotel. Fire in the hotel's bedrooms started while the garage fires were being fought.

Two men were charged with arson for the 1940 fire.

Information and photos published courtesy of: