Iconic Sydney pub The Royal Oak Hotel demolished for ‘no reason’
Angry locals who fought against the demolition of a 200-year-old Sydney pub for the new light rail have been issued another devastating blow.
It has been reported the site of a 200-year-old iconic Sydney pub, which was controversially demolished for the new light rail, is no longer needed.
The Royal Oak Hotel in Parramatta was torn down in 2020 to make way for the Parramatta Light Rail.
Angry locals who fought against the hotel’s demolition and lost have been issued a devastating blow, with 2GB reporting that Transport NSW has decided the site of the old pub is no longer needed.
Suzette Meade from North Parramatta Residents Action Group said they understood the site had only been used for storage during construction of the light rail.
“We’ve been seeing it there growing weeds and the light rail not on it, and we drive past it and it’s like a dagger in the heart,” she told Ben Fordham.
Transport NSW maintained it was necessary to acquire the site and demolish the pub because of how close it was to the road, when asked by news.com.au.
A spokeswoman said the pub was in the way of widening the road to make space for the light rail tracks, traffic lanes and footpaths.
news.com.au understands the light rail had not been planned to go through the actual site.
“The majority of businesses on Church Street are setback further from the original street kerb which meant we could widen the road without encroaching on their land,” the spokeswoman said.
“Unfortunately, the Royal Oak Hotel building was located very close to the Church Street kerb, and its awning overhanging the footpath.
“Over half of the Royal Oak building was on the road space required to allow for the new transport hub providing light rail, traffic lanes and footpath access for people to get to the many great places in Parramatta.”
The remainder of the land that locals see sitting unused was “not needed”.
“The NSW Government will explore options in consultation with the City of Parramatta Council and the community for the future use of the residual land resulting from the removal of the Royal Oak Hotel,” the spokeswoman said.
Parramatta Mayor Sameer Pandey, who opposed the demolition as a councillor at the time, is now pushing for the site to be turned into a park for the community.
The hotel was originally called the Shamrock, Rose & Thistle and has a history dating back to 1813.
Convict John Metcalf established the pub and then John Tunks, son of William Tunks who was on the First Fleet’s Sirius ship, built and ran the Royal Oak.
Lorraine George, who is a sixth-generation niece of William Tunks, was among those shattered about the demolition.
“The saddest part for us, apart from the Royal Oak, is there just doesn’t seem to be any respect for the heritage,” she told The Daily Telegraph at the time.
The Royal Oak was reopened at a new premises across the road last year.