From the Maitland Mercury report:
Morpeth’s historic River Royal Inn could soon have a new lease on life if it sells at auction later this month.
The landmark Swan Street building is set to go under the hammer on April 30 and is already creating quite a deal of interest from keen punters.
The boarded up building, which sustained significant damage in last year’s April super storm, was placed on the market earlier this year for $859,000 but failed to sell.
It opened as The Royal Hotel in 1876 and catered for shipping, railway workers and passengers arriving at the local wharves and station.
Morpeth’s role as one of the most important river ports in NSW began in the 1820s. In 1867 there were 11 hotels operating in the village.
Full article available at Maitland Mercury, April 20, 2016.
