The Paddington Ale House, also affectionately known as The Paddo, has been a cornerstone of Mount Hawthorn life since 1932. But it’s story stretches back even further, beginning with a hard-fought battle to open it’s doors.
Beginnings: from controversy to celebration
Back in the late 1920s, Mount Hawthorn was a growing suburb just five kilometers from Perth’s CBD. At the time, it had only one hotel, and when plans for a second surfaced, they sparked fierce debate.
Police, church groups, and many locals opposed the licence, arguing the area didn’t need another pub – especially one so close to schools, playgrounds, and three churches. A petition in 1930 gathered signatures from more than half the suburb’s residents. One opponent summed up the mood of the Depression years: “At a time when houses, factories and shops are being closed, it is wrong to open new hotels. Many of the people who signed the petition have not got the price of a loaf of bread, let alone the price of a beer.”
Supporters, however, argued the suburb was booming and existing pubs were overcrowded. The case dragged on for two years, but in October 1930 the licence was finally granted.
On 17 December 1932, the Mouth Hawthorn Hotel – the building we now know as The Paddo – opened its doors. With polished jarrah fittings, 26 bedrooms, lounges, bars, and sweeping views of Lake Monger, it quickly became the beacon in the neighbourhood. At night, its floodlit white facade could be seen from streets away.
Growing with the community
Despite opening in the darkest days of the Depression, the hotel thrived. Locals dropped in after work, visitors stopped by after a day at Scarborough Beach, and football fans adopted it as their post-game watering hole.
The hotel shaped more than just social life. As historian Valerie Everett noted in her book Seventy Years of Cheers, it was even mentioned in real estate ads as a sign of the suburb’s appeal.
In 1987, during Perth’s America’s Cup era, the venue was refurbished and renamed The Paddington Ale House. It soon became a destination pub, known for live music, big events, and its welcoming atmosphere.
Stories from The Paddo
Everett’s book captured not only the hotel’s history but also the memories of locals who grew up in its shadow. Some recalled childhood games nearby, others remembered working as lookouts for bookmakers.
Publican Neil Randall, who ran The Paddo from 1987 to 2017, also left his mark. Under his watch, the venue introduced craft beers, hosted theme nights, and turned its back area into a live music room where bands like Paul Kelly, Killing Heidi, and You Am I played.
For years, the upstairs rooms even housed long-term boarders – men who found community and belonging within the hotel’s walls. As Neil put it: “It gave them a sense of belonging… The Paddo was their home.”
The Paddo today
Almost a century later, The Paddo remains at the heart of Mount Hawthorn. Families drop in after weekend sport, friends gather for meals and live music, and locals still call it their go-to spot.
The menu is packed with crowd favourites, including classic chicken parmy, smash burgers, sizzling garlic prawns and perfectly cooked steaks.
On Fridays and Saturdays, the big screen shows the sport before the bands kick in, while Sundays are all about families relaxing in the alfresco.
As one local put it best: “The Paddo will live forever.”
