Captain Kettle and the Toorak Hotel –

Built in 1899. On June 25, 1903 a fire destroyed the whole of the front of the hotel. Situated on the 90 Mile Road, in the early days this was the road out of Coolgardie on the North side. It closed some time in 1910.

Toorak Hotel, Toorak Tce, Coolgardie 1899

Licensee’s
Harold B McCormick – 1900
E Bradley – 1901 to1902
William George Jouning – 1903 to 1904
W T Foster – 1905 to 1907
D Quinlan – 1908 to 1909

Coolgardie Miner 31st October 1903:

Toorak Hotel
Mr W G Jouning, proprietor of the Toorak
Hotel, announces that his establishment will
be formally opened today, when visitors can
have a free drink
Coolgardie Miner Saturday 24 June 1899, page 4

Coolgardie Miner Saturday 24 June 1899, page 4

Sun (Kalgoorlie, WA : 1898 – 1919), Sunday 23 January 1910, page 9


COOLGARDIE CHIPPS    –   BY T.T.

The death of William George Jouning (better known to Old Campers as Captain Kettle), which occurred in Kalgoorlie a day or two ago, removes another member of the Pioneer. Brigade. the ranks of which are rapidly thinning. The deceased did his share of battling in the early days, and chased the elusive weight with varying success until the opening of the Coolgardie, Exhibition, when he became a member of the working staff under Manager Jules Joubert. Afterwards he was a watchman under the old Salvage Corps started by Charlie Summers and one or two other business men, and then was the host of the Toorak Hotel, before Toorak became well nigh deserted. Captain Kettle was better known by reason of his peculiarly eccentric manner, which withal accompanied a warm heart and a kindly disposition. Before coming to Australia ho rendered good service as a member of the City of London Fire Brigade, and he was very proud of the special service medal which he brought away from that body.

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My name is Moya Sharp, I live in Kalgoorlie Western Australia and have worked most of my adult life in the history/museum industry. I have been passionate about history for as long as I can remember and in particular the history of my adopted home the Eastern Goldfields of Western Australia. Through my website I am committed to providing as many records and photographs free to any one who is interested in the family and local history of the region.

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