Hornsby Railway Hotel: Menu, History & Accommodation Guide

Few pubs in New South Wales can trace their origins to a single 1886 construction that predates the suburb itself. The Hornsby Railway Hotel, at 31 Station Street, began as Haydon’s Family Hotel at Hornsby Junction before the area was renamed Hornsby, and it has remained a fixture of local life for over 135 years. This guide draws on the Hornsby Shire Council’s historical archive, the hotel’s official menu and website, and independent listings to provide a verified portrait of its history, menu, ownership, and current offerings.

Last checked: 2026-05-17

Address: 31 Station St, Hornsby NSW 2077, Australia · Phone: (02) 9477 1115 · Year Built: 1886 · Distance from Sydney CBD: Approximately 30 minutes by train · Accommodation: Newly renovated rooms available · Entertainment: Live entertainment and sports screenings (State of Origin 2026, etc.)

Hornsby Railway Hotel Menu

The hotel’s current menu, published as a downloadable PDF on its official website, shows a broad pub-grub lineup with daily rotating specials. Monday’s “all burgers” are priced at $20 AUD; Tuesday brings fish and chips for $25; Wednesday offers a rump steak for $23; and Thursday features schnitzel for $20. On Fridays, kids’ meals drop to $5 when ordered with any main. Lunch service runs from 11:30 am every day, dinner from 5:30 pm Monday–Saturday.

Beyond the classics, the menu includes a “Taste of Asia” section with Nepalese MO:MO dumplings (10 pieces) and Nepalese-style chow mein. Steaks are a highlight: a 250-gram Angus rump (grain-fed from Oakey, Queensland) at $29, and a 250-gram Scotch fillet (grass-fed from Emerald, Queensland) at $36. The hotel claims on Instagram to have the cheapest local pub beer, though that claim was not independently verified.

The bottom line: the menu balances affordable daily specials with a few premium options, and the Asian-inspired dishes add a point of difference from standard pub fare.

Hornsby Railway Hotel Owner

The hotel’s current ownership is not named in the sources reviewed for this article. The official website does not list an owner or operating company, and liquor licence records from Liquor & Gaming NSW show the venue as a licensed hotel without identifying the licensee in public fields. The property is likely managed by a hospitality group or private entity that has not disclosed ownership publicly.

Historical ownership, however, is well documented. Martin Haydon built the hotel in 1886 and became its first licensee when it opened as Haydon’s Family Hotel in 1888. Subsequent publicans included Cameron Roberts (1896), Paul Pierre (1898), J.C. Pullbrook (1903), Herbert Trimnell‑Ritchard (1909), and his son Bernard Trimnell‑Richard, who held the licence from 1936 for about 35 years. Russell Sharpe was publican when the hotel was renamed Highwayman’s Hotel in 1973.

The implication: while the current owner remains opaque, the hotel’s long lineage of well‑known publicans speaks to its deep roots in the community.

Hornsby Railway Hotel History

1886–Present: A Hornsby Icon

Built as the first commercial building in the then‑Hornsby Junction, the structure was completed in 1886 and began trading in 1888 under Martin Haydon. The Hornsby Shire local history archive records that the original name was Haydon’s Family Hotel at Hornsby Junction. After several ownership changes, the venue became known as the Hornsby Railway Hotel when the locality itself was renamed Hornsby around 1898.

“The hotel was virtually entirely rebuilt” during the 15-month reconstruction starting in 1953, after the original building was condemned in 1940.

Hornsby Shire Recollect

A timeline of key milestones:

• 1886 – Building erected by Martin Haydon (first commercial building in Hornsby)
• 1888 – Opens as Haydon’s Family Hotel at Hornsby Junction
• 1896 – Cameron Roberts takes over, promotes cycling destination
• 1898 – Paul Pierre renames to Hornsby Railway Hotel
• 1903 – J.C. Pullbrook secures “Pullbrook’s Entrance” to Hornsby Station
• 1909 – Herbert Trimnell‑Ritchard upgrades for motorists
• 1936 – Bernard Trimnell‑Richard becomes publican for ~35 years
• 1940 – Building condemned by Licensing Board
• 1953‑1954 – 15‑month complete rebuild
• 1967 – Locals nickname it the “Old Pub” after Claude Fays Hotel opens
• 1973 – Renamed Highwayman’s Hotel
• mid‑1990s – Reverts to Hornsby Railway Hotel
• 2007 – Major refurbishment; Station Street Bistro created
• 2014 – Bistro converted to restaurant brand “Rails”

The pattern: each era has adapted the hotel to changing transport and social habits, from cyclists and motorists to today’s commuters and night‑life seekers.

Hornsby Railway Hotel Nightclub

Time Out Sydney lists the Hornsby Railway Hotel as offering a “pub, nightclub, accommodation and meals.” The hotel’s website mentions live entertainment and sports screenings, including State of Origin matches, and the venue stays open late – Mon–Sat until late (Sun 10 am–late). No separate nightclub name is given; the bar area likely doubles as a dance floor later in the evening.

Related search terms suggest poker nights may be held, but the official site and menu do not confirm this. As with any late‑night venue, patrons must be 18 or over and should check the current schedule for live DJs or bands.

What to watch: if you’re seeking a dedicated club, the hotel’s nightlife is more of an extension of the pub – expect a lively atmosphere rather than a standalone nightclub.

Pros and Cons

Best For Segments

• Budget travellers and backpackers – Reasonably priced rooms and meals, plus proximity to the train line.
• Solo visitors wanting drinks and social atmosphere – Friendly regulars and a central bar make it easy to mingle.
• Couples seeking a no‑frills weekend getaway – You can sleep, eat and drink under one roof without breaking the bank.
• Small groups attending live entertainment or sports – Big screens and live acts cater to crowds.

Pricing Band Block

Room rates are not published on the official website; guests are directed to call or use the online booking system on the hotel’s site. For food, a full meal with a drink will typically cost between $20 and $36 for mains (the priciest being the Scotch fillet). The hotel’s lunch specials offer the best value. No currency conversion is needed – all prices are in Australian dollars.

Location and Getting There

The Hornsby Railway Hotel sits at 31 Station Street, Hornsby, on the corner opposite the station entrance. From Hornsby Station (on the T1 North Shore & Western Line and Central Coast & Newcastle Line), it’s a 30‑second walk. By car, the hotel is about 30 minutes north of the Sydney CBD via the Pacific Highway or M1. Parking is available on nearby streets and in the Westfield Hornsby car park a few minutes away.

Alternatives in the Area

If the Hornsby Railway Hotel is fully booked or not your style, other options near Hornsby include:

• ibis budget Hornsby – A no‑frills chain hotel about 1 km away on George Street.
• Mantra Sydney North Ryde – A more up‑market choice, though a 15‑minute drive south.
• Other Hornsby pubs with accommodation – The Hornsby Inn (now operating as a boutique bar) and the nearby Asquith Hotel are alternatives worth comparing.

Sources Cited

• Hornsby Shire Recollect – Entry: Railway Hotel (local history archive)
• Hornsby Railway Hotel – official website
• Hornsby Railway Hotel – official menu PDF
• Time Out Sydney – Hornsby Railway Hotel listing
• Hornsby Chamber of Commerce – The Railway Hotel profile
• Liquor & Gaming NSW – Licence search (LIQH400106062)
• Hornsby Railway Hotel – Instagram page
• Google Maps – Hornsby Railway Hotel user reviews