The Victoria Hotel - Coolgardie - Outback Family History

VICTORIA HOTEL, Coolgardie.
Corner of Hunt and Bayley Streets.
(now a garage diagonally opposite Ben Priors Park)

Built in 1895 and opened on the 1st July at a cost of £10,000, the Victoria Hotel was one of two brick buildings in the town. It consisted of 30 bedrooms, both double and single, with a broad veranda on two sides and two wings which enclosed a central courtyard for outside dining. The 50 foot internal dining room could seat 100 patrons with ‘punkahs‘ situated throughout the room for hot weather.

‘Cannot be overlooked for comfort and cleanliness’

In addition to this, there was a spacious ballroom 50 feet long, a billiard room, shower and plunge baths and several sitting rooms for private parties and meetings. The first licencee was Mr Charles Sommers who also ran the fire brigade, he installed every available fire precaution.

Patrons outside of The Victoria Hotel, Coolgardie

Pictorial Australian, Adelaide SA – 1 June 1895, page 83

The most pretentious and commodious of new buildings at Coolgardie is the Victoria Hotel, which has just been completed to the order of Messrs. Monger and Quinlan.It is two story, and consists of a large dining-room, spacious billiard-room, five sitting-rooms, and large bathroom, with front saloon and bar. There is bedroom accommodation for sixty visitors. It is situated at the corner of Bayley and Hunt streets. The front is built of brick, and has a splendid wide balcony all round.

Plane in the street outside of the Victoria Hotel Coolgardie – Photo SLWA

The bedrooms surround the courtyard, which has also a spacious balcony all round. The hotel is most elaborately furnished and was filled with boarders before completely furnished. Mr. J. Sommers, the landlord, has spared no pains or expense in fitting the hotel up with all that goes to make things comfortable and pleasant. To meet the increasing demand, 18 additional bedrooms are now being erected for the accommodation of boarders.

WA post office Directory 1896

Licensees:
From the WA Post Office Directories
Charles Sommers 1898-1901
J Lipman (Vincent & Lipman) 1902-1905
G Unwin – 1906
George Williams – 1907
M Merton – 1908
Miss S F Williams – 1909-1910
William McRostie – 1911
James Elliott – 1912-1913
Llewellyn Bruton – 1914-1915
Isadore Davis 1916-1917
Hugh Jones 1918-1920
P Irwin 1921
G T Lathrope 1922-1923

Bayley Street, Coolgardie 1897 – Photo SLWA

Kalgoorlie Miner 17 February 1920, page 2

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Bio
Latest Posts

Moya Sharp

Owner at Outback Family History

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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Comments

Stewart ARNOLD says

02/08/2019 at 10:56 am

I am seeking to trace the history of the Plymouth Brethren Church in Kalgoorlie.
We are aware of some 15 different families who gathered at different times circa 1890 onward, firstly in a house in Porter Street and later in a newer building near St Andrews church.
Names we know A. Gallop ,Charles Fuller, Massey Green ,Mrs Rutherford and Muriel, Courtenay Palmer , Mr Shields , Sam Palmer ,Mr Flynn, Mrs and Miss Lugg ,Mr and Mrs Court , James and May Bryden and daughter Mary.,Mrs Walker , Hobbs ,Pollards ,and Martins.
We would appreciate any information or photos you may have access to. Stewart 0437950564

- Moya Sharp says
  
  23/08/2019 at 10:19 am
  
  Dear Stewart Im afraid it is no a group I have ever herd of. I can find no references in my records.There are a number of references in TROVE, have yo seen these? Perhaps you could search the individual members in the WA Post Office Directories?