Oddfellows Arms Inn, Historic inn at 541 Church Street, Parramatta, Australia

The Oddfellows Arms Inn is a two-story building made of sandstone blocks with Victorian Georgian features, a verandah, and garden beds on the eastern side. The structure displays solid construction methods and decorative details typical of colonial-era construction.

Built in 1842, this inn first served travelers moving between Sydney and Windsor Road before closing as a public house in 1855. It later became a private residence known as Fairview House starting in 1884.

The building shows how colonial pubs evolved into private homes as the town developed and travel patterns changed. Visitors can see how a working inn became a family residence, reflecting shifts in community needs.

This heritage site sits on Church Street and is open for exterior viewing where you can examine its architectural features and stonework closely. Plan your visit as part of a walk through Parramatta's historic neighborhoods.

The inn's name cannot be explained: no link between James MacRoberts and the Odd Fellows has ever been established, and the reason for his choice of name remains unknown. Faded signs on the building still read Fruit Growers Hotel, a later name whose date of adoption is also unrecorded.