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Willoughby is a leafy suburb located 8km from the CBD on Sydney’s lower North Shore. There are various stories to how Willoughby was named however popular belief is that the suburb was named to commemorate Sir James Willoughby Gordon who had served in the Peninsular war and was the quartermaster-general in England when the First Fleet sailed to Botany Bay.
Throughout the 1800s and early 1900s, a lot of the Willoughby area was still in its natural, rugged state. Throughout the cultivated areas, there were orchards, farms, dairies and Chinese market gardens. Willoughby was also a well-known weekend retreat for Sydney siders. The Willoughby Hotel was established at this time and was described as one of the finest buildings in the area, with panoramic views over the Lane Cove Valley, Mosman and the Pacific. The hotel was a popular stop for tourists who would catch the tram from Milsons Point and spend their time walking the hotels gardens and relaxing on the hotels lawns.
Today, the Iconic Willoughby Hotel in its 111th year holds an aesthetic significance as an impressive example of Federation Hotel architecture within this historical area. This diverse hotel is heritage listed with the Willoughby Council and remains a popular community watering hole. With one of the best pub bistro’s in Sydney, renowned for its succulent and impressive range of Steaks, the Willoughby Hotel was nominated for the 2009 AHA ‘Best Steak Venue of the Year’. The hotel offers a range of diverse entertainment from Tuesday night Trivia to Live Acoustic performances each month; however their enticing daily bistro specials often prove too difficult for local diners to refuse! | 
