31/05/2026
Jill Yvonne Gill
1925 – 2026
At Royal Tenterfield, we would like to honour and acknowledge a lady deeply woven into the fabric that has made the Royal what it is today.
For those unaware of who this special woman was — Jill Yvonne Gill was the daughter of Roy and Linda Munro, who purchased the Royal Hotel in 1923, originally known as The George Inn, built in 1849.
Jill spent her young formative years within the walls of Royal Tenterfield while attending the local Sir Henry Parkes School. She spoke with Sharon one of the current owners of times spent by the fire in the “parlour” with her Mother and Aunt whilst they did needlework, a cold breeze chilling the room as the men from the bar went through to go to the men’s room out the back door. After the bar had closed for the evening, the family would gather together in the bar area.
A cherished memory from one of Jill’s sons was the raffle pinboard behind the bar — a honeycomb-style board with perhaps a hundred small holes, each holding a piece of paper with a prize written on it. Using a matchstick, patrons would push a paper free to reveal their prize. At sixpence, or later five cents a turn, it created quite the excitement whenever someone won.
Jill later attended Armidale Girls School before going on to complete a Bachelor of Science — becoming the first woman from Tenterfield to achieve a BSc. A remarkable woman ahead of her time.
She worked in her chosen field for Krome Chemicals in Sydney, embracing the opportunities of the post-war years. Eventually, she met Graham Gill at Gatton College, where she was lecturing, though formally her title was “Laboratory Assistant” — a sign of the times in 1950. Before long, Jill Munro became Jill Gill.
Together, Jill and Graham settled in Warwick and raised their three sons — Marshall, Anthony, and Andrew. As life moved them from Warwick to Kingaroy and then Biloela, Jill returned to her profession as an industrial chemist.
Jill became deeply involved in many community groups, especially among the country women she met through Graham’s work with graziers. She was active within the Queensland Arts Council and contributed to many touring Queensland arts productions. Later, after moving to Brisbane, she continued her community involvement through local book clubs and discussion groups, remaining active until her health declined.
Jill celebrated both her 99th and 100th birthdays at Royal Tenterfield. Her 100th birthday in 2025 was a particularly special celebration, shared with many members of her extended family and friends.
For those who have wandered through our outdoor garden area, you may have noticed the hotel room dedicated to Jill and the days she spent at Royal Tenterfield. Jill remains one of the permanent reminders of the many years the Royal was lovingly cared for by the Munro family.
And if you close your eyes for just a moment, you may still imagine Jill — dressed in the fashion of a bygone era — quietly sitting with her Mother and her Aunt by the fire, learning the gentle skills of needlework and engaging in pleasant conversation.
