Red Cow Inn

Erected in 1843 by William Vowles for a man known locally as "Black Neale", the Red Cow was the first wooden building in Bell Street, Ipswich. James Josey participated in cutting the timber for this building. The building was made of round timber, sawn pine and shingles and was initially constructed at One Mile then moved to Bell Street on a bullock wagon. It was rumoured that Black Neale illegally brewed his own liquor and although he had a reputation for this, it was never proven. However when the original timber building was demolished in the late 1890s to make way for a 2 storey brick building, parts of a still were uncovered in the chimney.  

The Red Cow was just the second establishment to be licensed by NSW authorities in Ipswich.

The Red Cow was known as the Royal Oak under Henry Skinner and various other licensees.  In 1863 the name of the hotel was changed again to the  Horse and Jockey Inn by William Thompson. A few years later in 1867 James Given changed its name to the Caledonian Hotel which still occupies this site today.