Carriers' Arms Hotel came from Jericho to Barcaldine
The Carriers’ Arms Hotel was brought to Barcaldine from Jericho in 1886 by John P. Vesper.
Somewhat confusingly, the Licensing Authority applications in 1886 show two hotels with similar names – one owned by John Peter Vesper, the Carriers’ Arms Hotel applying to the District of Blackall; the other owned by Thomas Devine, The Carriers’ Arms applying to the District of Barcaldine and Alice. Vesper’s premises were located at Jericho, Thomas’s at Alice. The two applications are dated one day apart.
In October 1887, John Peter Vesper applied to the District of Barcaldine Licensing Authority for The Carrier’s Arms Hotel licence.
Mrs Vesper died in 1890, leaving a husband and seven young children. Presumably one of the children was Miss Lily mentioned below in 1907.
In 1903 Mr Vesper was the first publican to install gas lighting in the hotel.
In the 1908 cyclone that wrecked havoc in the town, the Carriers’ Arms lost its verandah and most of its roof. The roofing iron ended up in the back yard after demolishing the kitchen and other buildings.
The hotel was owned and licensed by John Vesper until it burnt down in the 1909 Oak Street fire. Mr Vesper also owned the Royal Hotel when it was under licence to Annie Lynch.
In 1914, Mr Vesper was residing on a selection he had won in a land ballot near Jericho which he called Clunie Vale.
