Kennedy’s Family Hotel and Cafe stood on the corner of Bayley and Ford Streets, Coolgardie. It was originally built in 1893, when this wooden structure burnt down a new two story hotel was built. This photograph shows the original building in 1893. The Royal Hotel is next door then there is Counsel’s Store.
The hotel was burnt down in 1897 and John Patrick Kennedy was held in such high esteem, all the local victualers gathered together to donate money to assist him, over £1,000 was raised.
Coolgardie Pioneer 17 October 1896 : The NEW KENNEDY’S FAMILY HOTEL
Mr. John Patrick Kennedy, whose picture, with Mrs. Kennedy’s, appear below. Kennedy’s Family Hotel is situated on the corner of Sylvester and Hunt streets. Mr Kennedy, the popular lessee of the Family Hotel, Kennedy arrived in the colony in January, 1894, from New South Wales, and subsequently made for Coolgardie. It is Mr. Kennedy’s great boast that he arrived in Coolgardie with only 16 shillings in his pocket, after “padding the hoof” with 17 others, from Northam. On his arrival he started business on the corner, where Brewer’s Hotel now stands, he worked hard, ably assisted by Mrs. Kennedy, Subsequently he took charge of the present fine hotel with a restaurant, one of the first in the town, and which bears his name.
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