In September 1862 it was reported that Alexander Finch ("late of Deniliquin") was building "a new public house at the One Tree".  The hotel was built by William Davies of adzed cypress-pine slabs.  In June 1864 a reserve of four square miles was proclaimed around the "Single Tree" (excised from "Ulonga" station).  A publican's license was granted to Finch in August 1864 for his public house at One Tree (then known as Finch's Inn or Finch's Public House).  In December 1865 Alexander Finch was successful in sinking a well at One Tree.  A second well, sunk in the first half of 1866 close to the nearby solitary tree, "struck a beautiful freshwater spring which promises to prove inexhaustible".