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Woolpack Inn at Digby, built by Richard LEWIS in 1843.

1843 : "Woolpack Inn" built for Richard Lewis

According to Noel Learmonth in his 1934 book "The Portland Bay Settlement"...

"On Emu Creek, Richard LEWIS opened the Woolpack Inn on July 1, 1843; it was on the creek bank below modern Digby. LEWIS is famous as the importer of the great thoroughbred jumper, King Alfred." Richard LEWIS who later bought "Rifle Downs" had the "Woolpack" Inn built at Emu Creek and it was comprised of 14 rooms, a kitchen, dairy and outhouses, a brick stable with 20 stalls, a permanent well in the front yard, three acres of land and a garden plus an attached store of four rooms and a 40 foot loft above. This inn was burnt down in 1887 and Mrs SOUTHERN who held the licence was jailed for two years for deliberately burning it down, but she was later found to be innocent."

1862 : "Woolpack Inn" for sale

"Portland Guardian and Normanby General Advertiser" (Vic.) Tuesday, 22nd April 1862. FOR SALE. THE WOOLPACK INN, DIGBY.

• THE HOUSE is commodious, consisting of 14 Rooms, with Kitchen, Dairy, and Out-houses ; a brick Stable with 20 stalls.
• Also, a substantial brick Building, containing Shop and four Rooms with a Loft above, 40ft. long. This STORE is now let, subject to a lease for two years.
  
• In the Yard is a WELL of permanent Water, and recently fitted at considerable expense with a Force Pump and Hose.
  
• The Garden is large, well cultivated and stocked with Fruit Trees.
  
• The whole occupies three acres of Land in the centre of the township.
  

The Inn commands a first-rate trade, and will be sold separately or together with the Store. For terms, apply to
Mr. JOYCE, The Proprietor on the Premises ;
Or to-
Mr. JAMES ROBERTSON, Portland.

1887 : "Woolpack Inn" destroyed by fire

"Portland Guardian" (Vic.) Friday, 4th February 1887.
Suspicious Fire at Digby. (From The SPECTATOR)
Merino, February 1.
On Tuesday last, some excitement was caused here by a report that the Woolpack Inn, Digby, was burnt. The report turned out to be true. It appears that flames were first noticed issuing from the building about midnight on Monday, by Mr. A. Farley of the Digby Hotel, who, fortunately, had not retired for the night. He immediately gave the alarm, and there were soon gathered a number of willing workers, but the fire had got too great a hold and the efforts were futile. The building, being old and dry, was a ready prey to the devouring element, and the adjoining premises, a store owned by Mr. Ford and occupied by Mr. A. McDonald, being very close to the hotel, was also soon ignited. Mr. McDonald and family were sound asleep when roused up by Farley, and upon grasping the situation, McDonald immediately set to work, assisted by those present, to remove the contents of the store. Most of the goods, with the furniture, were hurriedly thrown out before the building became untenable ; the fire quickly spread and the store was completely demolished. The flames then extended to Mr. McDonald's hay-stack, which was also entirely consumed The stable at the Woolpack, well known to be a commodious one, was, singular to relate, found to be on fire at the same time the house was burning, although there was no connection between the places, and the conflagrations appeared to be independent of each other. This was naturally regarded as a very suspicious circumstance. By dint of strenuous exertions, the stable was saved. The police from here visited the scene of conflagration on Tuesday, when further proofs that the work was that of an incendiary were forthcoming. Kerosene rags were discovered under the shingles of the stables, some of which had apparently been fired. Mrs. Unity Southern, the only person in charge of the premises made a statement to the effect that her right of the premises had expired on the date of the fire. At 9 p.m she had locked the place up and was on her way to stop with a friend about three quarters of a mile away, when observing the flames, she returned and vainly endeavoured to subdue the fire. Her statements, however, were so contradictory, combined with other suspicious surroundings, that Constable Graves felt it his duty to have Mrs. Southern arrested on suspision of wilfully causing the fire. As far as can at present be known, not any of the premises were insured, and if that is the case it is not easy to surmise what would be the object of an incendiary, though no doubt more light will be thrown on the matter at, the official inquiry which takes place tomorrow. The Woolpack Inn was most conspicuously situated to the visitor entering Digby from the North, and its destruction has caused quite a blank in this picturesque little town. Universal sympathy is expressed for Mr McDonald who had lately moved into the premises, and whose loss, although not nearly so large as it might be, is still considerable.
MERINO, February 2.
Mrs. Unity Southern was brought up before the local Bench, today and remanded to Hamilton for 8 days. She is charged with wilfully burning theWoolpack Inn, Digby.
The accused was brought to Hamilton yesterday afternoon, and on the arrival of the P.M. bail was fixed, herself and two sureties in £100 each. The bail was forthcoming and the prisoner was released. Mrs. Southern will appear at Merino on the 10th inst.
MERINO, February 17.
AT THE Merino Police Court on Thursday, William Southern was charged with attempted arson in connexion with the fire at the Woolpack Inn. A good deal of evidence was taken, but as the P.M. could find nothing-direct in it he discharged the accused.