The hotel was originally built not as a pub, but as offices for a London merchant who came to Coolgardie during the gold rush in the 1890s. The Railway Hotel, at 75 Bayley Street (Corner of Lefroy Street), Coolgardie, is one of the only four remaining hotel buildings in the town, which at one time boasted23 hotels. It no longer licenced, (delicenced in 1960’s) and is now called The Railway Lodge. Other names it has had are, Ghost Inn Hotel, Michelle Lodge and Goldrush Lodge. It was built in 1898, a two story Federation style building of brick and iron. It has full verandas on two sides and was heritage listed in 2003.
The Railway Hotel Bayley Street, Coolgardie c 1970
In 1934 Elsie and George Gear took over the licence of the Hotel which was very busy at that time. Sadly George Gear died at the age of 37yrs, in December 1937 from Meningitis. Elsie took over the licence, and ran the hotel herself. They had three children, Geoff, George and Dawn. The boys attended Guilford Grammar School in Perth and Dawn was a boarder at the Coolgardie Convent. Sadly Geoff, who joined the Airforce at the outbreak of war, was killed in a plane crash.
Coolgardie Miner 8 June 1939, page 1
The shops adjoining the hotel in Bayley street were:
1. A Betting shop
2. A ladies and gents hairdressing saloon
3. A fish and Chip shop, all the fish came up from Esperance each day packed in ice.
Railway Hotel – Coolgardie
There was always great excitement when a circus came to town. They would set up on the vacant lad behind the hotel and they gave free passes to the Gear family. It was a popular venue for all sorts of sporting activities.
Kalgoorlie Miner 19 June 1901, page 8
The hotel had three different lounges for patrons. The main bar was at the front with a large lounge behind. A beer garden was built out the back near the kitchen entrance. This was very popular in the summer. There was also a ballroom next to the main bar which had its own entrance from Bayley Street. It had a beautiful polished wood floor and was popular venue for meetings and wedding receptions.
The damage to the Railway Hotel after the Magazine Explosion – 1904
Daily News (Perth, WA : 1882 – 1950), Thursday 19 May 1904, page 1
DAMAGE TO SHOPS AND BUILDINGS, SERIOUS DEVASTATION.
At 3.30 this morning a terrific shock which was felt all over Coolgardie aroused the inhabitants and caused the greatest excitement in Bayley street, where a number of large plate glass windows had been shattered to pieces The citizens assembled came to the conclusion that an explosion of the powder magazine in the immediate vicinity had taken place.
A party was soon got together and an inspection was made. After some searching in tho darkness it was found that the Explosive Magazine west of the cemetery had been blown up. Tho locality presented a strange appearance by lamplight. Large trees were blown out by the roots, their large trunks broken and splintered into fragments. The surface of the ground for an area of sixty yards around the site was completely swept of every vestige of vegetation, and tho earth was ploughed up in great boulders. Not a particle of the magazine was to be found near the spot where it stood, but
A HOLE IN THE GROUND
about fifteen foot deep and thirty to forty feet in diameter marked where it had stood. No lives were lost, The wire fence which surrounded tho building was strewn about in all directions, and every tree in the neighborhood was stripped of its branches, Mr McAlister, who resides about 400 yards from the magazine, was then looked for. He had by no means recovered from the shock when the party found his camp. By the light of several lamps, it was soon found, that altogether his escape had been undoubtedly marvelous, around his camp was strewn the debris from the combustion, and he emerged from the ruins of his domicile with his face besmeared with dirt and considerably damaged. It was some time before ho realised what had occurred. After explanations had been given, Mr, McAlister gave his version of the affair as follows; — I at first thought the place had boon struck by lightning. The furniture collapsed and I was thrown out of my bunk among tho debris. I thought
THE WORLD. HAD COME TO AN END”.
Moya Sharp
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