18/08/2026
A little piece of Alberton Hotel history! 🕰️
Long before the cold drinks, busy bars and good times we know today, there was the old hose and cart doing its bit.
It’s pretty incredible looking back at photos like this and seeing just how much the pub — and Alberton — has changed over the years.
Same pub. Same community. Just a few more stories, a few more beers and a whole lot more history! ❤️🍺
ALBERTON - c.1889
Alberton Hotel
The Alberton Hotel, located on the corner of Port Road and Sussex Street in Alberton, South Australia, is one of the oldest operational hotels in the state, with a hospitality history dating back to 1848.
Early Beginnings and Evolutions
1848 Establishments: The very first licensed venue established on the Port Road site in 1848 was initially known as the Coromandel Inn.
Name Changes: The pub traded under the name Coromandel Hotel from 1861 to 1877 before formally changing its name to the Alberton Hotel in 1878.
The Shipwrights Arms: Historical records show that the Alberton Hotel originally operated right alongside another early pub called the Shipwrights Arms (which traded from 1839 to 1876). During the 1860s, a licensee named John Parsons briefly managed both venues side by side until the Shipwrights Arms eventually closed.
Bluestone Architecture: The prominent corner of the current hotel represents the original historic bluestone building structure, featuring iconic expansive balconies and casement windows.
The Brien Family Legacy
The hotel is highly celebrated as one of South Australia's most enduring and prominent family-run businesses:
Generational Custodianship: The Brien family took over the hotel's license in September 1940, starting with Peter Brien Snr and his wife Kathleen.
Living History: The pub served as the literal family home for decades, with Peter Brien Jr famously spending 41 years living in the residence upstairs while running the business.
Current Operations: Today, the multi-generational family legacy continues, with Peter Jr's children, Matt and Rebecca Brien, managing the daily operations of the venue. The family prides itself on maintaining a traditional community atmosphere, running the iconic site explicitly as a "family pub, not a casino".
Reimagined scene, enhanced using a combination of Ai tools and hand editing/colouring. Inspired by an original image, info and date from State Library of South Australia B 31890.
Click on the photo to see the original and current view in the comments section
