The claim
A sandstone waterfront hotel facing Hobart's old Custom House, now Parliament House, from which it takes its name. Built for early settler Charles Gaylor, whose name is still cut into the coping stone, it once served hearty meals as the 'Chop House'. Its Derwent Bar still has live music at weekends, and there are rooms upstairs.
What the records show
The hotel's own history says the house was built for Charles Gaylor and licensed in 1846, trading first as the Chop House. The Tasmanian Heritage Register lists 1 Murray Street as the Customs House Hotel and describes a corner sandstone building with three bays to each street, a recessed corner entry, a parapet and hipped roof and twelve-paned sash windows, significant as an Old Colonial Georgian hotel. That fits the 1840s but is not a date. Neither licensing records nor a construction date have been traced, so 1846 remains the hotel's own.
What to look for inside
- Named for the Custom House opposite (now Tasmania's Parliament House)
- Founder Charles Gaylor's name carved in the façade coping
- Derwent Bar with weekend live music
Visiting
Customs House Hotel is in Hobart, Australia, at 1 Murray Street, Hobart TAS 7000. We do not list opening times, because they change; the pub’s own site is the place to check before you set out.
Sources
- www.customshousehotel.com/
- onlineregister.heritage.tas.gov.au/Place/2513
- thr-public-datasheets.heritage.tas.gov.au/Report_Handler.ashx?heritagePlaceID=2513
- www.treasury.tas.gov.au/liquor-and-gaming/liquor/community-information/liquor-licence-data
Know something we don’t?Suggest a correctionLast checked Sept 2026
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