Seymour founded with business and hotel on the Goulburn

By Contributed

Nov 29, 2024

This article was submitted by the Seymour and District Historical Society.

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When speaking to other Seymourians, you may mention the name John Clarke in the course of conversation.

They may tell you “Yes, I know John Clarke, he lives at Northwood, he’s a farmer. His family have lived here for many years, and he has been a volunteer with the Hilldene fire brigade for years.”

But wait ... This is not the John Clarke I am referring to. No, I am talking about John Clarke, the founder of Seymour.

In 1838, he put a punt on the Goulburn River crossing at what we know today as Mitchellstown, north of Seymour.

This crossing was on the Major’s Line and was Major Mitchell’s crossing place in 1836 for travellers heading to the north on the road (if it could be called that) to Sydney.

Mr Clarke also had a little hotel for overlanders to rest and refresh themselves after crossing the Goulburn River.

Mr Clarke was told of a new and shorter road north; however, there was no crossing point at the river.

So, Mr Clarke shifted his business and family down to what is now Seymour, where he built another hotel and punt at the new crossing place at the back of the now Royal Hotel.