Historical Acknowledgment

The Stirling Arms Hotel was established in 1852 during the early years of the Swan River Colony, a period marked by profound change and conflict. The hotel’s name reflects colonial naming practices of the time and references figures whose actions, including the treatment of Aboriginal people, caused significant harm and lasting trauma.

We acknowledge that the settlement of this area involved the dispossession of Noongar people from their lands and waterways, and that these impacts continue to be felt today. While preserving the historic fabric of the Stirling Arms, we are committed to telling its story with honesty, respect and care — recognising both its place in Guildford’s history and the deeper history that existed here long before the hotel was built.

In today’s time, the Stirling Arms’ owners and the wider community reject the injustices of the past and actively support reconciliation and healing. We are committed to fostering understanding, respect, and meaningful connections with the Noongar community, acknowledging the importance of forgiveness, and contributing positively to the ongoing journey toward justice and reconciliation.

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A Place Shaped by People

For more than 170 years, the Stirling Arms has been a place of gathering — shaped not by one name or one moment, but by generations of people who have passed through its doors.

Built in the early days of Guildford, the hotel has served many roles over time: a resting place for travellers, a meeting point for locals, a hub for sport, music and celebration, and at times a refuge during periods of uncertainty and change. From convict-era labourers and railway workers to soldiers, families, performers and sports fans, the Stirling Arms has always reflected the life of the community around it.

Today, we honour that tradition by focusing on what has always mattered most here — connection, hospitality and belonging. The Stirling Arms continues as a community pub, grounded in its historic setting while evolving to meet the needs of the people who call Guildford home.

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Acknowledgment of Country

The Stirling Arms Hotel is located on Whadjuk Noongar Country, a place of meeting, movement and life for tens of thousands of years before European settlement. We acknowledge the Whadjuk people as the Traditional Custodians of this land and recognise the enduring culture, knowledge and custodianship that continues today.

We pay our respects to Elders past and present, and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples who visit this place.