the imperial hotel
BEGINNINGS
The Imperial Hotel’s logo bears the face of the original publican Mr Thomas Breen; husband of Emily Doohan, father of six and the first Mayor of Gunnedah.
Hailing from County Kerry Ireland, Thomas Breen came to Gunnedah in 1878 as the licensee of the Imperial Hotel. In 1885 he was elected first mayor of the Municipality of Gunnedah. His tenure as mayor was short but colourful, with factional disputes seeing him voted out of office after just three months and culminating in a fist fight in the chambers.
Thomas Breen was just 48 when he died while having tea on June 10, 1887 in the upstairs family quarters of the pub.
Emily ran the hotel until 1895 before leaving the district in 1900 soon after the death of her son Arthur from consumption in December 1899.
Thomas Breen along with his two sons were laid to rest in the Hunter Street Cemetery in Gunnedah.
In 2020, Thomas Breen’s grave was restored with thanks Gunnedah and District Historical Society and completed by members of Rotary West.
