Horse & Jockey Inn

The Horse & Jockey Inn, sometimes referred to as the Horse & Jockey Hotel, was a fixture in Ipswich from the 1850s to 1880s. William Thompson was a well known race horse owner and sportsman who was a lessee of several hotels in Ipswich in the 19th century which were always named the Horse & Jockey. 

On 1st October 1857 William Thompson commenced trading at what is thought to be his first Horse & Jockey, in Nicholas Street. The license for the establishment had been transferred from William Vowles. Years later this would be the site of the Central Hotel. 

Around April 1860 Thompson was granted the license for the Horse & Jockey in Brisbane Street. He worked and resided in Brisbane Street until about November 1863 when he moved to the Royal Oak pub in Bell Street and re-named it the Horse & Jockey. This hotel was opposite Cribb & Foote. Thompson stayed in Bell Street until early 1867 when he transferred this license to James Given who renamed the hotel the Caledonian. 

It is believed that William Thompson then had a pub, in Little Ipswich or what was known as "Upper Brisbane Street", which stood where Watson Bros butcher shop would stand a few years later. This may have been at "the cutting", around Burnett Street bridge. 

Circa 1872 the Horse & Jockey name found a new home when Thompson moved to another hotel at the corner of Brisbane and Mortimer Streets and stayed for about 8 years. This is the same site as the Ulster Hotel at 25 Brisbane Street. 

In 1880 William Thompson again applied for a license transfer from the Horse & Jockey in Brisbane Street to the School of Arts Hotel, near the Post Office. Naturally, the new premises were also named the Horse & Jockey. This establishment appears to have been Thompson's last Horse & Jockey Inn. He died in 1890.