Welcome To The Chidlow Tavern

Steeped in history and over a century old, The Chidlow Tavern is just 45 kilometres east of Perth, in the rustic town of Chidlow.

These days the Chidlow Tavern is a favourite in the region after undergoing a major refurbishment bringing it back to its former glory. Make it your lunch stop when sightseeing around the Perth Hills, Mundaring or Lake Leschenaultia.

Enjoy the atmosphere of the huge Beer Garden, have a drink with friends in the bar or treat your tastebuds to a delight from the kitchen. The Last Stop Dining & Refreshment Station serves spectacular restaurant meals and tasty pub favourites are available at the bar or in the beer garden.

History of The Chidlow Tavern

When the railway connection from Guildford to Chidlow’s Well (as the town was formerly known) was opened in 1884, John Symonds (an ex-licensee of the Old Mahogany Inn) could see the need for a new Inn.

He established the first hotel in Chidlow’s Well, the Oxford Inn, on railway land north of the present site. The popular Inn was open 24 hours a day, providing refreshments, a place for people to stay, horses to be stabled and a meeting point for locals.

At the time, Chidlow’s Well had many railway buildings, including refreshment rooms, a marshalling yard and a turntable for turning the engines back to Perth. Although the railway had been extended to York by 1885, Chidlow’s Well remained a busy station.

The first Inn burnt down in 1908 and, fortunately, the owner managed to save all of the furniture. He subsequently rebuilt an 8-bedroom brick hotel at the current site in Thomas Street and named it the New Oxford Hotel.

Chidlow’s Well (renamed to Chidlow in 1920) became a quieter town as the century progressed, and the railway track was removed in 1966 (when the Avon Valley route was established). Much of the area’s railway heritage is still on display around town.

The hotel became known as the Chidlow Inn Tavern in 1973. While public bedrooms are no longer available, beneath the main bar, the original cellar remains (but has been filled in to prevent dampness).

The Chidlow Tavern Today

Despite extensive internal changes to the tavern during the 1980s to add a large bar and eating area, the tavern has retained much of its bygone charm.

Current refurbishments, inside and out, aim to recapture the Tavern’s historic relationship to its origin as a railway station. Extensive works planned for the Beer Garden, including the addition of a replica station platform and other memorabilia, will become a tribute to Chidlow’s past.

Norm and his staff look forward to sharing more news and updates as the renovations continue.