The building is known as “David Hildyard’s House” or the “Plough & Harrow Inn”. It is said to have been an 1827 public house for which Daniel Long had gained a license in the mid 1820’s. However, an 1832 town plan shows that Long had premises on the corner of Gordon & Coles streets and that there was no building on the site at 8 Gordon Street at that particular time.
A 1839 plan notes that the allotment was being used as a brickyard while an 1842 plan shows a building on the site which had been granted to David Hildyard. In the same year, Hildyard is recorded as living in a brick house in Gordon Street. So it can be assumed that the building was probably erected between 1839 & 1842. It has been indicated that the building was later used as a hotel and this may be the source of the “Plough & Harrow Inn” name with David Hildyard being recorded as having held a publican’s license at some stage.
The building is a largely intact Colonial Georgian 2 storey house which retains it setting. The exterior is painted over the face brick with a symmetrical layout featuring a central door and pairs of 6 pane windows on either side. The building has typical Georgian detailing with shaped brick lentils to openings and brick chimneys.
Main Text & Information Source –
“Sorell Heritage Study – Site Inventory Vol 5” – Sorell Municipal Council 1996