Mr. Jonathan Boon, whose death was recorded in last issue, was identified with Wagga for over half a century, He was a native of Campbelltown, and arrived here in 1844. He opened the first hotel in Wagga, vis, the Commercial, which was built at the rear of the site where the Australian Hotel now stands. After being in business a few years the reports of the richness of the Snowy River goldfields attracted him, and he tried his luck there, with varying results. From the Snowy he went to Albury, and there opened the Globe Hotel, returning after a comparatively brief period to Wagga. He built a hotel at the corner of Peter-street, styling it "The Retreat," and became its first landlord. He remained in this hotel for 4 or 5 years, at the end of which period he opened the Exchange Hotel, which was built by the late Mr. Michael Maher. Hotel life evidently had its charm for Mr. Boon, for we next hear of him becoming the first landlord of the Builders' Arms, now the All Nations' Hotel. From the hotel he went back to his private house, formerly the Retreat Hotel, and there he resided till a few days before his death. From the time he gave up the vocation of a publican he followed the calling of a veterinary surgeon. The late Mr. Boon possessed a very interesting fund of anecdotes of the early days of Wagga, and was a most entertaining ranconteur. His remains were buried yesterday in the Roman Catholic portion of the cemetery. A number of friends joined in the funeral procession, and the burial service was read by the Rev. Father O'Shea, Mr. J. Mclntosh conducted the funeral.
'Boon, Jonathan (1830–1901)', Obituaries Australia, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, https://oa.anu.edu.au/obituary/boon-jonathan-25950/text34044, accessed 12 October 2024.
8 January,
1830
Campbelltown, Sydney,
New South Wales,
Australia
15 May,
1901
(aged 71)
Wagga Wagga,
New South Wales,
Australia
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