First licensed on 31st May 1837 as Guthrie's, by George Guthrie, Town Acre 127 is the Oldest Hotel License in South Australia. There are a few hotels around town that stake claim to being the 'First Licensed Hotel', so here a brief rundown…

Way back when, well before Wi-Fi and Velcro shoes, Town Acre 127 on the Adelaide City plan was ear marked as 'Hotel'.

George Gutherie became the first Licensee to the first Hotel License issued. Gutherie's traded until 5th April 1839 when the English Government changed the rules [A New Act of Parliament created to overcome the English Government's disallowance of the local Act under which licenses were issued from 31st May 1837].

It was 6th April 1839 when the Edinburgh Castle Hotel became, with Andrew Harriott the licensee. Harriott was from Scotland and was associated with a few other hotels around South Australia, his family and relatives were connected to the hotel well into the 1870's.

The Sydney Hotel, also traded as Deacon's Hotel and Coffee House, was first licensed 8th May 1838. After the 'New Act of Parliament', Deacon's Hotel and Coffee House was the first NEW license, changed name to Sydney Hotel in March 1839 until 1841.

Summary
1837, 31st May
Gutherie's, FIRST license issued in South Australia

1839, 5th April
The English Government disallow the local Act under which licenses were originally issued.

1839, 23rd March
The Sydney Hotel first license issued under new act.

1839, 6th April
The Edinburgh Castle Hotel licensed under new act.

1839 to Current – Trades on

This is a role of Licensees since the first license issued, though you will notice a few small gaps. If you can shed light on these dates, we would be glad to hear from you. Photos from anytime over the hotels history are also welcome.
Email - info@edinburghcastlehotel.com

Licensees –
31-5-1837 – 5-4-1839 GUTHERIE, George
6-4-1839 – 25-3-1846 HARRIOTT, Andrew [1] *
26-3-1846 – 19-9-1849 BROWNING, Nicholas
20-9-1849 31-3-1852 DOUGLAS, James
1-4-1852 – 12-1-1853
HARRIOTT, Andrew [2] * Son of Andrew HARRIOTT [1]
13-1-1853 – 23-2-1858 FORBES, Charles
24-2-1858 – 4-4-1860 FRIEDLANDER, Anton Fredk.
5-4-1860 – 27-3-1861 NOLAN, Richard
28-3-1861 – 1870 VENN, Robert Charles * Married Ann VENN
1871 – 1880 VENN, Mrs. Ann * Daughter of Andrew HARRIOTT
1880 – 11-9-1881
HENNING, R.H * Wife of Andrew HARRIOTT [2]?
12-9-1881 – 1882 HILL, J
1882 – 11-12-1882 BURNS, Isabella
12-12-1882 – 10-12-1883 LADNER, E
11-12-1883 – 1884 O'NEILL, W
1884 GREEN, D
1885 – 1886 NICHOLSON, A
1886 – 12-9-1887 ENDERSBY, Wm.
13-9-1887 – 1889 NICHOLSON, A
1890 – 1891 HODGES, W
1892 REDPATH, George
1893 McCULLAGH, D
1894 YOUNG, Mrs. E
1895 LENEHAN, J
1896 – 1899 TUCKER, Wallace
1900 – 1901 BESSELL, Robert
1902 BESSELL, Mrs. Annie
1903 PREWETT, Mrs. A.E
1904 WEEKS, G.W
1905 DALY, Patrick
1906 – 1907 MILLS, Jas
1908 COLLINS, W H
1909 DePLEDGE, H J
1910 – 1911 SUPPLE, Mrs. J
1912 – 30-5-1920 SUPPLE, Mrs. Ellen G
31-5-1920 – 23-1-1954 McDONNELL, Edward
24-1-1954 – 19-2-1955 McDONNELL, Peter
20-2-1955 – 1-5-1955 McDONNELL, Michael
2-5-1955 – 19-2-1957 McDONNELL, Michael and Ina Jessie
20-2-57 – 14-8-1959 REYNOLDS, Keith Arthur
15-8-1959 – 25-9-1959 REYNOLDS, Arthur Roland Hall
26-9-1959 – 19-7-1962 REYNOLDS, Keith Arthur
20-7-1962 – 24-8-1962 REYNOLDS, Arthur Roland Hall
25-8-1962 – 3-8-1963 REYNOLDS, Keith Arthur
4-8-1963 – 30-11-1970
REYNOLDS, Gordon John and Audrey Janet
1-12-1970 – 8-12-1970
REYNOLDS, Malcolm Keith
9-12-1970 – 3-10-1978
REYNOLDS, Gordon John and Audrey Janet
4-10-1978 – 7-10-1984
PARSONS, Maxwell George and Lillian Margaret
8-10-1984 - ? KEMP, Peter Kevin
???
2007 – CURREN, Paul
2009 - Current - Thomas Gannon

This has compiled with the aid of the South Australian State Archives.