Our History

Long before Wauchope became a bustling regional town, the Birpai people lived on and cared for this land for tens of thousands of years. Their deep connection to country and the Hastings River region continues to be acknowledged and respected.

European exploration began in 1818 when Surveyor-General John Oxley passed through and named the river and Rawdon Island in honour of Lord Francis Rawdon Hastings. By the 1820s, timber cutters had begun harvesting the region’s prized red cedar, laying the foundation for Wauchope’s emergence as a vital timber town.

Black and white photograph of a team of horses pulling a log-filled wagon through a wooded area, with two men standing nearby and two other horses in the background.

Duncan Campbell’s horse team.

Throughout the 20th century, Wauchope continued to evolve. Bain Bridge opened in 1907, connecting the town across the Hastings River. The Wauchope Railway Station welcomed the arrival of the North Coast railway in 1915, becoming a key link in regional transport. The town’s community spirit shone through with events like the first Wauchope Show in 1910 and the formation of the Wauchope Surf Life Saving Club in 1923.

Over the years, Wauchope has contributed significantly to national achievements—including supplying timber and plywood for the construction of the Sydney Opera House between 1959 and 1973.

Black and white photo of the Hastings Hotel, a two-story brick building with nameplate on the top. Adjacent to it is a sign for Stal Cafe on a pole. The hotel is located at Wauchula, Florida, as indicated by writing on the photo. There is a utility pole with wires near the hotel.

Hastings Hotel 1939

A black-and-white photo of a large crowd gathered around a submarine and a ship, with many people wearing hats.

First train to Wauchope 1915

In 1836, Captain Robert Andrew Wauch purchased 760 acres along King Creek, naming the property ‘Wauchope’—the name that would come to define the town. The township gradually grew, spurred on by infrastructure like Queen’s Wharf (built in 1870 by local store owner Thomas Wallace) and Wauchope Provisional School, which opened in 1868.

By the late 1800s, Wauchope had become a thriving centre for agriculture and forestry. In this setting, the original timber Hastings Hotel was built to serve the growing local population. Tragically, that early hotel structure was destroyed by fire. Around 1897, the current two-storey brick building rose in its place and has proudly stood at the heart of Wauchope ever since.

Black and white historic photo of a large crowd of people gathered near a river, many with umbrellas, standing on the riverbank and near a small bridge. There are horses and carts in the scene, and a forested hillside in the background.

Bain Bridge opening day 14 August 1907

Today, the Hastings Hotel remains a proud part of Wauchope’s story. As custodians of this historic building, we honour its heritage while welcoming locals and visitors alike to experience the newly refurbished spaces and the same country hospitality that’s been a hallmark of the hotel for over a century.