New South Wales’ first motel is said to have been opened in Bathurst in February 1954.

At Lavington, the first mention of a motel was in November 1952 when Hume Shire rejected an application by Tom Pearsall and Cedric Frauenfelder for vehicular access for a motel off Union Road. However, access off Wagga Road was allowed.

On January 25, 1954, Pearsall and Frauenfelder opened their “motel service station” which was planned to be developed in stages.

When the “luxurious accommodation” (motel) proposed was erected is not clear.

The Border Morning Mail of July 12, 1954, reported that Pearsall & Frauenfelder owned the North Albury Motel and were proposing additions.

Its location and original opening date is, however, unclear. In the first week of November 1954, Elaine and Donald MacPherson opened Mac’s Motel and Café in Wagga Road.

Located just south of Kaylock Road, the motel contained lounge, five double rooms, eight single rooms and bathrooms.

On March 28, 1955, the Border Morning Mail noted that: “two modern motels exist in Lavington, both within one hundred yards of each other.”

Lavington’s third motel opened in mid-November 1956. Built by Accommodation Australia Ltd on the corner of Wagga and Kaitlers Road, it was originally known as the A A Motel.

It provided bedroom and dining accommodation for 30 guests.

In later years, it was renamed the Rex, Leighton Inn and Barclay Gardens.

In mid-1957, the first stage of the Jasper Motel on the corner of Wagga Road and Vickers Road commenced.  

Established by H A Kelly, each unit contained a sitting area, two single beds, shower, toilet and dressing basin.

On October 20, 1958, Hume Shire approved a hotel-motel on a site that included Pearsall & Frauenfelder’s 1954 ‘motel service station’.

The motel portion was completed in April 1959.

According to the Border Morning Mail of October 24, 1959, the “hotel-motel was the first combined hotel-motel to be erected in Australia.”

It was named the Boomerang Hotel-Motel.