Delegate Hotel
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History

Since 1877

The story of the Delegate Hotel dates back to 1877, making it an important part of the rich history of Delegate and the surrounding region.

Throughout its long history, the hotel has been known by several names, including the Commercial Hotel, and has long served as a gathering place for locals, travellers and visitors to the town.

In 1924, George Morris purchased the Commercial Hotel and renamed it the Delegate Hotel. Just two years later, in 1926, Morris demolished the original building and rebuilt the hotel, creating the building that stands largely as it is today.

One hundred years on, current publican Merelda Pace is proud to carry the Delegate Hotel into its next chapter, continuing its long tradition as a welcoming place for locals, travellers and visitors to come together.

As the hotel celebrates 100 years of the current building in 2026, it remains a much-loved part of Delegate and a proud reminder of the town’s history.

A period postcard of the Commercial Hotel, Delegate: a long single storey building with a scalloped veranda and a corrugated iron roof, with about twenty people, an open-top motorcar and a motorcycle and sidecar on the dirt road outside.
The Commercial Hotel, Delegate, before the rebuild. Photograph by W. S. Vogt, credited on the card.

PUBLICAN HISTORY

The People Behind the Bar

Behind every country hotel is a story shaped by the people who have stood behind the bar, welcomed travellers and become part of the local community.

For almost 150 years, the Delegate Hotel has been a place where locals and visitors have gathered, and its story has been shaped by generations of publicans, proprietors and their families.

From the early days of the Commercial Hotel through to the Delegate Hotel of today, each generation has added another chapter to the hotel’s history.

The rebuilt Delegate Hotel photographed in black and white: a long building with gabled, half-timbered ends and brick chimneys, with three period cars and a loaded flatbed truck parked on the gravel forecourt.
The rebuilt hotel, with cars and a loaded truck on the forecourt.

Our Publicans & Proprietors — Current Findings

  1. 1877

    G. Sellers

    Built and operated the original Commercial Hotel in Delegate.

  2. 1877–1924

    Various Licensees

    The Commercial Hotel operated under a number of annual licensees. We are continuing to research the NSW Gazette records to identify them by name.

  3. 1924

    George Morris

    Purchased the Commercial Hotel and renamed it the Delegate Hotel.

  4. 1924–c.1981

    The Morris Family

    The Morris family operated the hotel for almost 60 years, overseeing the rebuilding of the hotel in 1926–1927 into the building largely seen today.

  5. c.1981

    Graeme Payten

    Purchased the Delegate Hotel from the Morris family.

  6. 1981–2018

    Graeme Payten

    Served as publican for approximately 37 years, becoming one of the longest-serving publicans in the hotel’s history.

  7. June 2018–July 2025

    Paul & Julie Herringe

    The hotel was purchased by Paul and Julie Herringe in June 2018.

  8. July 2025–Present

    Merelda Pace

    Current owner and publican, Merelda Pace took over the hotel in July 2025 and is proud to continue its long tradition of hospitality and community.

For the centenary

Help Us Complete the Story

We are still piecing together the Delegate Hotel’s publican history, particularly the names of those who held the licence during the early years of the Commercial Hotel.

Do you have an old photograph, family story, document or information about a former publican or licensee? We would love to hear from you and help preserve the history of this much-loved country hotel.

Every name has a story. Every story is part of 100 years of the Delegate Hotel.

The front of the Delegate Hotel: red brick with green posts, a red roof, and a gable sign reading Hotel Delegate.
The same building today, looking along the veranda from the western end.