The Ox, located on the corner of the Ipswich Motorway and Oxley Road at Oxley, is a well-known pub which dates back to the earliest days of settlement at Oxley, in Brisbane’s south-western suburbs.
With a warm and inviting atmosphere and delicious steaks, it’s no surprise that we’re a favourite amongst locals and visitors alike.
Our pub has a long history, and for many years it was known as The Oxley Hotel, a Brisbane icon for nearly 140 years.
The Ox has been serving the Oxley community since around 1892 when a brick hotel was built on the corner of Oxley Road and Ipswich Road, the site of a public bar still open today.
These races were popular until the early 1870s but became less frequent thereafter. Despite efforts by the Oxley and South Brisbane Racing Club in 1888, the racecourse did not survive into the 1890s.
Mapping Brisbane History tells us the construction of the new Brisbane-Ipswich Road through this rural area saw the building of a hotel near Oxley Creek in 1862.
“The first licensee was John McDonald, and it was initially known as McDonald’s Hotel,” it notes. “Soon afterwards, McDonald was also appointed the postmaster of the new post office. A horse-racing track was laid out next to the hotel, running along part of the road to a finish line in front of the hotel.”
The first big horse race meeting was held on New Year’s Day 1865, followed by a supper ball at the hotel.
“Most of the horses were owned by local farmers,” the study notes. “These races were popular until the early 1870s, but were held only intermittently thereafter, and despite the efforts of the new Oxley and South Brisbane Racing Club in 1888 the racecourse did not survive the 1890s.”
We’re told the hotel shifted location a few times over the decades due to the occasional damage caused by being built on a flood plain.
In 1875, the hotel’s name was changed to the Coach and Horses, and the hotel retained that name when it reopened as a new brick hotel on the flood-safe high ground at the junction of Ipswich and Oxley roads in January 1891. The study notes that this hotel is still operating today.
A report in The Telegraph of Brisbane on 4 August 1890 noted “the foundation stone of the new Coach and Horses Hotel was laid on Friday last by Mr J.C. Rumpf, the proprietor… The building when complete will prove a substantial addition to the town.”
But two years later, the hotel was severely damaged by a cyclone. On 21 October 1892, The Week reported “one of the severe storms passed over Oxley district yesterday afternoon that has ever been witnessed by the oldest residents in the district.”
It went on: “A lot of damage has been done to property. The Coach and Horses has suffered the most. The roof of the hotel has been completely carried away and the stables and outbuildings have been damaged while the furniture and bedding in the hotel has been soaked through from the top to the bottom of the house.”
The hotel appears in newspaper reports over the years, including in 1911 when a headline in the Riverina Recorder noted on 23 August: “Billiard balls stolen from Oxley Hotel”.
The report noted: “Kenneth McLeod, a young man, was placed in the dock on Monday to answer a charge laid against him of stealing a set of billiard balls… from John Peacock, of the Oxley Hotel”.
The reference confirms for us that The Oxley had a billiard room, a highly sought-after attraction in the first half of the 20th century, providing entertainment and socialising opportunities for its guests.
Today at The Ox, we’re proud of our part in the growth of our community, and happy to continue to welcome our wonderful locals.
At The Ox, we pride ourselves on our great relaxing atmosphere, our excellent service, great food and cold beer. We’d love to welcome you to our beautiful venue soon!