Photo of historic lost Edinburgh pub discovered during house renovations in Australia

A vintage photograph of a long-lost Edinburgh pub has been discovered during house renovations in Australia, sparking interest and nostalgia among locals and expats alike.

The photo, believed to have been taken in the early 1950s, captures two uniformed men standing outside the now-demolished Lord Darnley Tavern located in Canongate.

In an extraordinary twist of fate, the aged photograph was found behind the wall of a house in Wollongong, a coastal city just south of Sydney, known for its surfing spots.

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Lisa Doherty, the resident who stumbled upon the photograph while renovating her property, originally constructed in the 1950s to accommodate British migrants, often referred to as '£10 poms' was intrigued by the discovery.

Reflecting on the unexpected find, Lisa remarked: "I found this in a wall while renovating a house in Australia and thought it might be of interest. It looks like a cool old pub. Shame it's no longer there."

She added, "The house that we found the photo in was originally built in the '50s for migrants from the UK. The area used to be called Commonwealth Cottages in Unanderra."

In an intriguing catch posted on the popular Lost Edinburgh Facebook page, a photo of two unidentified uniformed men has been causing some chatter. The pair are reputed to have served in the Royal Navy, as remarked by Stephen O'Neil on Lost Edinburgh: "They are two Royal Navy Petty Officers. The badge on the arm denotes which branch, but I can't quite make it out."

The establishment pictured was at one time found at the base of the Canongate before urban redevelopment efforts in the 1970s necessitated its relocation to the West Port.

The storied pub is fondly remembered for its exhibit - a waistcoat claiming to have belonged to Lord Darnley - Henry Stuart - Mary, Queen of Scots' second husband and father of James VI, during the 1560s.

Sharing his memory, Andrew McFadden penned: "First pub I played guitar in with my mate singing early '60s. Lord Darnley's waistcoat was up on the wall in a glass case."

Similarly, Lesley Scott appraised the newfound photo treasure, musing: "Incredible. Photo discovered in Wollongong! I remember the Lord Darnley and other treasured buildings in the Canongate with such character, now demolished. I wonder, is one of the uniformed chaps in the photo the former owner of it? ".

Adding to the nostalgia trip was Bobby Robert Frazer's comment reminiscing childhood days: "What a fantastic photo it brings back some amazing memories to me of my childhood in the Canongate. We lived at Whitehorse Close from 1940 till 1955. The Lord Darnley was a smart looking pub."