Item details:
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Current status*:
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Nominated
for inclusion on Bega Valley Shire Council's Local Environment Plan (LEP) by
numerous local residents; assessed by council's Heritage Advisor as having
heritage significance; approved for listing by Bega Valley Shire Council in
March 2014; after owner Great Southern Developments appealed to Land and
Environment Court, Bega Valley Shire Council withdrew plans to include
property of LEP; and have since approved the owner's application to demolish.
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Name of item:
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Hotel
Australasia.
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Former name/s:
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Nil (known
colloquially since C. 1970s as "The Snake Pit" and / or "The
Pit").
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Item type:
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Built.
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Item group/collection:
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Commercial.
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Item category:
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Hotel.
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Street number:
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142-144
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Street name:
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Suburb/town:
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Eden, NSW
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Local Government Area:
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Property description:
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Owner category:
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Private.
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Current use:
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Nil -
vacant building.
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Former use/s:
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Licensed
hotel
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| Eden's Hotel Australasia, C. 1908.Image courtesy of the George Family Collection. |
* Refers to the site's inclusion in Schedule 5 of the Local
Environment Plan.
Significance:
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Statement of significance: A well-known and easily
identifiable local landmark structure in
Constructed
from a range of locally sourced materials, the building provides an important
extant example of indigenous resources and the ways in which these were
utilised by and for the local population.
Retaining a
high level of integrity, the Hotel Australasia is important for its ability
to demonstrate building styles, techniques, habits, customs and tastes of its
era while the relatively intact state of the building enhances its importance
as an increasingly rare extant example of turn-of-the-20th-century local
architecture.
The
original construction of the Hotel Australasia is closely linked with
Continuously
functioning as an hotel from 1906 until 2010, its various construction and
alteration phases and subsequent closure provide tangible evidence of the district's
changing economic circumstances and the growth and decline of the industries
upon which the town has relied.
The
building is also closely linked with the birth, development and growth of
tourism locally, a connection that continued from its earliest days until its
closure, providing an important tangible indication of the growing importance
of that industry to the local economy.
The Hotel
Australasia is an important physical reminder of the presence and
contribution of a number of individuals significant in and to the development
of township. A) John Hines, possibly one of the most important local builders
and contractors of the era, who was responsible for the construction of this
and other premises; and B) long-standing and successful local business woman,
hotelier, developer and early tourism operator Sabina Pike, for whom the
hotel was built, and who continued to operate the business for almost two
decades. This association with Sabina Pike also provides an important
material link to the changing roles of and opportunities available to single
women in Eden in particular and rural Australia in general after the turn of
the 20th century.
The Hotel
Australasia was also associated with NSW and Australian Rugby League legend
Frank Stanmore, who was licensee during the mid- to late-1970s.
Through its
continuous use as an hotel for in excess of a century, the Hotel Australasia
is an important reflection of the changing face of the town's social and
recreational history. It is a physical link the character of the
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Level of
significance:
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Local.
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| A horse team carting sleepers outside Hotel Australasia, C. 1908 Image courtesy of the George Family Collection. |
Description:
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Designer:
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Unknown
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Builder:
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Mr. John
Hines
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Physical description:
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Double
storey brick built hotel building with front veranda on both the ground and
upper storeys with two wings projecting on the southern and northern sides
from the central section for the depth of the veranda.
The central
under-veranda section originally featured exposed unpainted brick walling
although this has more recently (C. 1960s) been rendered/painted in line with
the north and south standing wings. The upper storey also features a veranda
enclosed by rendered brick balustrade, also of a later date than the original
construction.
Windows on
both the ground and upper levels are timber framed two pane double hung sash,
located approximately equidistant along both the ground and upper storeys.
The upper level features four on the under-veranda section, with an
additional two each on both the northern and southern wings. The ground level
features four on the under-veranda section with an additional two on the
northern wing, while the southern wing features a single non-semicircular
window which, based on historic images of the property, appears to be an original
feature.
Two sets of
timber framed Casement or French doors are located at the front of the
building, one providing entry from the ground floor veranda to the northern
wing, and the other to the main bar area near the southern wing. The door
providing access to the northern wing is of two pane, while that into the
main bar is single pane with timber panels at the bottom. Both are capped by
a simple fan light.
Another two
sets of timber framed double pane doors with side lights and capped by fan
lights are located approximately in the centre on the building, one each on
both the ground and upper floors and opening out onto the verandas. That on
the ground floor level leads to an entry hallway dividing what has more
recently been the restaurant and gaming room areas from the main public bar
area.
An
additional section protrudes from the northern wing and is fronted by a small
courtyard area. The upper portion of this section appears to have been part
of works undertaken in 1941, while the ground floor section has been
in-filled at a later date.
The whole
structure is painted in a white colour scheme, with the timber window and
door frames picked out in a gum-leaf green colour, which is repeated on the
trim around the base of the building and on the "Hotel Australasia"
signage across front facade above the upper storey veranda.
The
building is set directly on to the footpath, a practice repeated in the
remainder of the street scape and echoing the tradition followed by other
commercial structures in the Imlay Street Central Business District since the
19th century. Three concrete steps run the length of the central portion of
the building from street level to the ground floor veranda.
Modern
advertising murals in a bright green colour with a camel logo and
"Thirsty Camel" signage adorn both the southern and northern facing
walls of the two wings, while an assortment of alcohol, accommodation and
other related signage are fastened on to the building facade.
The
building has an easterly and westerly outlook. The easterly view extends
across the
Although,
because of access restrictions, a personal inspection of the property was not
possible, recent photographic evidence shows that, particularly on the upper
storey, a significant amount of original fabric remains in situ and visible.
This includes, internally, wide moulded timber skirting boards; moulded
timber architraves; timber panelled doors; pressed metal ceilings; kauri pine
staircase, balustrade and turned posts; ornate cornice mouldings and
embellishments. Externally other moulded timber including an area above the
man hole into the upper veranda ceiling cavity; and fan and side lights on
exterior doors.
Although
timber wall cladding and newer ceilings have been installed in some areas of
the ground floor, it is possible that original fabric remains concealed
underneath these later additions.
It is apparent
that the original parapet, pediment and associated embellishments of the
facade are still in situ behind the 1960s addition.
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Physical condition:
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Considerable
extent of original fabric, including Federation parapet, remaining
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Construction date/s:
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1904 - 1905
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Modifications and dates:
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1911 -
Additional gas lighting installed throughout;
1911 -
Taproom renovated and floor re-laid with linoleum;
1912 -
Motor garage facility added to business;
1916 -
"Fine motoring pit" installed by Mr. C. Gandon;
1922 -
Electric lighting installed;
1925 -
Additions including "two large bathrooms upstairs" and construction
of underground water tank by Mr. A. Mawson;
1928 -
Exterior renovations, by Messrs. Bray and C. Gandon;
1937 -
Improvements, by Mr. Denholm;
1941 - "Extensive
works" including four new bedrooms at the north-western corner as well
as a number of other alterations;
C. 1960s -
Alterations to facade;
C. late
1960s - Addition to "beer garden" area by Whiter Brothers.
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Further comments:
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| A gathering outside Eden's Hotel Australasia, C. 1908. Image courtesy of the George Family Collection |
History:
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Historical notes:
A landmark
building in
Mrs. Sabina
Pike purchased the one acre allotment that would become the site of the hotel
in late 1904, paying £500. This was reportedly the highest price paid for
land in the township for a forty year period. In the wake of her purchase,
local media reported on Mrs. Pikes intention to build "...a large up to
date hotel..." on the block and by December 1904 she had awarded the
construction contract to Mr. John Hines. With plans to erect a two storey
43-room brick structure "...on up to date lines...", it is believed
that the move was made in response to the expectation that
At the
time, the search for
Hailing
from Moss Vale, building contractor John Hines arrived in Eden in early 1901
and was responsible for the construction of a number of important public,
private and commercial buildings both in the township and throughout the
district, including Bank of NSW (1904), Robinovotz's Store (1904) and lock-up
and lock-up keeper's residence (1914) in Eden, as well as the police
sergeant's residence at Pambula (1901). Remaining in the district, he married
Rachel Davidson of the
Hines
erected brick kilns near the town cemetery in late 1904 to take advantage of
the onsite clay and it was here that the bricks for the
In December
1904, local media commended Mrs. Pike for her "...enterprise and
energetic action..." in undertaking what was an extensive local
development and later the same month, Mr. W. A. Robertson was granted the
first license for the Hotel Australasia.
Work on
what would become one of the district's premier tourist accommodation centres
commenced in December 1904 with the marking out of the foundations, while Mr.
Hines' workmen began carting "...large quantities..." of bricks from his local works to the site.
January
1905 saw the laying of a solid concrete foundation and Hines' kilns were in
"...full blast..." turning
out bricks for the building. Carting continued on a daily basis to meet the
demand of the outer walls, which were 18 and 14 inches thick, with inner
walls of 9 inches.
Providing
employment for "...quite a small army of men...", the ground storey
was completed by mid-April 1905 and by July, the roof had been put on.
Wunderlich pressed metal ceilings that were described as "...neat and
handsome..." had been fitted,
giving "...a light and airy appearance to the whole of the
rooms...", much of the flooring had been laid, staircases were ready for
installation, and with brick work of the parapet completed, plasterers were
busy adding a "...very attractive design..." which "...when completed, will show a
very handsome front..."
With work
"...proceeding apace...", by August all upstairs rooms had been
plastered, and downstairs was "...undergoing similar treatment...",
while the front balcony was nearing completion. Within a fortnight the rear
had reached a similar stage. An arched vestibule at the main entrance
presented "...a very pleasing effect..."
Occupying a
"...commanding position..." overlooking the ocean and bay, building
design took advantage of the glorious views of Twofold Bay, Boyd Town,
"...the distant verdure clad hills and mountains...", Mount Imlay,
and the mountain ranges and valleys by boasting wide balconies and verandas
at both the front and rear of the building.
Local media
were reporting on completion of
Shortly
afterwards, the new building was the subject of a lengthy and highly
complimentary write up. Noting the enterprise and energetic action of Mrs.
Pike in her "...endeavour to further the interests of this district in
meeting the demands for additional accommodation...", the writer
commented that the growing demand of visitors from "...various parts of
Carrying an
extensive description of the Hotel Australasia, the Eden Observer and South Coast Advocate noted many details about
the newly completed building, including:
The article
concluded that "Altogether the Hotel Australasia is a very fine
building...having an imposing front and situated in a position of
attractiveness. Mrs Pike has not, apparently, spared expense in placing in
her new hotel a superior lot of furniture, which accords well with the style
and finish of the building."
Finally
opening its doors to guests in early January 1906 under publican Mr. W. A.
Robertson, building owner and developer Sabina Pike had taken over the reins
by the following month and was to remain as licensee of the
Writing of
her business acumen, the Australian
Town and Country noted that Mrs. Pike's successful local activities had
led to her establishment of "...the splendid hotel..." where she managed the business personally
and did "...everything possible for the comfort of her guests..."
Describing
the business in 1906, a journalist noted that the
With such
glowing reports appearing in metropolitan papers, the Hotel Australasia soon
began to attract a notable clientele, including politicians and other public
figures. During his 1907 tour of the region, Australian Governor-General Lord
Northcote and his vice-regal party were entertained by at a public banquet
the
Always keen
to maintain her position as hostess of the town's premier hotel, Aunty Pike's
Mrs. Pike
also looked forward to the growing needs of her clientele and was continually
updating and improving the
In June
1923, Sabina Pike's license for the Australasia was renewed by the Eden
Licensing Court, but the following month, after almost two decades at the
reins of the Hotel Australasia, local media reported that Mr. H. B. Gunter
(or Gunton) of Melbourne had purchased the property and goodwill as a going
concern. With the new owner taking over in July, the township farewelled Mrs
Pike, who was departing to take up residence in Sydney, but the following
year the woman who had done so much for the commercial, social and tourism
development of the town returned to Eden after purchasing Mr. Frank Dawson's
"...seaside home..."
The
business remained a popular one with locals, tourists and visiting officials
alike. During 1929 NSW Minister for Agriculture Harold Thorby and his
ministerial party were publicly entertained at a dinner hosted by the
Next to
take over the
Under his
management, the
1929 saw
Bondi's George Impey take over the business and in the wake of American
author Zane Grey's interest in big-game fishing at nearby Bermagui, local
potential began to be explored. Keen to see the sport developed from
1937 saw
further improvements carried out by Mr. Denholm, while in 1941, what was
referred to as "...extensive works..." were undertaken, including alterations in
addition to four new bedrooms erected at the north-western end of the of the
building.
After
almost a decade, George Impey sold out to Andy Graham in 1939, and following
this, there was a rapid changeover of publicans. Mr and Mrs. J. King had
taken over by September 1940, but disposed of their interests in the business
that month to Mrs. Julia Dingle who installed Mr. E. Ritson as manager. By
the early 1940's, Lance Robinson was in charge, followed by Mr. Winrose who
became publican in 1942. The following year, Mr. George Moore purchased the
hotel lease, but by 1945, Lance Robinson was once again behind the bar as
publican.
Despite the business occupying a central place in the heart of the
community,
Mr.
Robinson, together with by Eva Chapman and Miss Roberts, remained in charge
until Towamba farmers James ("Jim") Love and his wife Irene (fondly
known to many as "Mum" Love) purchased the property in early June
1958 paying a £3,000 deposit on the £30,000 overall price. Taking over the
following month, the couple's reign was to be very short lived and after Jim
took his own life the same month, Irene returned to their Towamba property.
Robinson and Chapman again took charge of the
Mr. Cesco
was followed by Harold and Agnes Bennett between 1962 and 1965 and after they
sold to Arthur Meahan, Doug and June Patience arrived to manage the business.
The couple had previously operated Meahan's Town Hall Hotel in
Around the
early 1970s, Brian Horner took over as publican of the hotel, remaining until
1975, when the Parkers replaced him. By about 1976, Jim and Noni Greenhill
had taken over, followed by Frank Stanmore in about 1977. An Australian and
NSW rugby league five-eight great of the 1940s and '50s, Stanmore played
representative football in 1947, moving to
Around
1980, Stanmore moved on and Larry and Betty Galloway took over. Among the
other names that have, in more recent years, been associated with the
Now
popularly referred to as "The Pit", it was apparently during Frank
Stanmore's time that the name had its origins. According to one source, when
it came around to official closing time, the publican would shut the premises
to the public, pull sliding doors across what was then the main lounge area
and continue to serve to the private party. The "Snake Pit", as
this arrangement was referred to, was a common occurrence during the brisk
trade of the local tuna fishing season. Eventually shortened to "The
Pit", this is a name that has remained in common usage locally right
through to the present day.
It was also
around this time that the up market roots of the Hotel Australasia's early
years changed radically. Becoming more working class in its clientele, the
customer base tended more towards the bush workers of the timber industry,
along with the rough and tumble of the seasonal tuna fishermen, many of whom,
according one source, had been "barred" from the Fishermen's Club.
This was also the era when the so-called "Sex, Drugs and Rock and
Roll" movement hit
In more
recent years, the
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Image courtesy of the George Family Collection |
Themes:
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Australian theme:
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Local theme:
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3:
Developing local, regional and national economies.
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Commerce –
Activities relating to buying, selling and exchanging goods and services.
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3:
Developing local, regional and national economies.
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Technology
– Activities and processes associated with the knowledge or use of mechanical
arts and applied sciences.
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3:
Developing local, regional and national economies.
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Fishing -
Activities associated with gathering, producing, distributing, and consuming
resources from aquatic environments useful to humans.
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4: Building
settlements, towns and cities.
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Towns,
suburbs and villages - Activities associated with creating, planning and
managing urban functions, landscapes and lifestyles in towns, suburbs and
villages.
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4: Building
settlements, towns and cities.
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Accommodation
– Activities associated with the provision of accommodation, and particular
types of accommodation – does not include architectural styles – use the
theme of Creative Endeavours for such activities.
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7:
Governing
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Government
and administration - Activities associated with the governance of local
areas, regions, the State and the nation, and the administration of public
programs - includes both principled and corrupt activities.
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8:
Developing
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Domestic
life – Activities associated with creating, maintaining, living in and
working around houses and institutions.
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8:
Developing
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Creative
endeavour - Activities associated with the production and performance of
literary, artistic, architectural and other imaginative or inventive works;
and / or associated with the production and expression of cultural phenomena;
and / or environments that have inspired such creative activities.
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8:
Developing
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Leisure –
Activities associated with recreation and relaxation.
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8:
Developing
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Social
institutions – Activities and organisational arrangements for the provision
of social activities.
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9: Marking
the phases of life.
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Persons –
Activities of, and associations with, identifiable individuals, families and
communal groups.
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Eden's town band standing in front of the Hotel Australasia, C. 1911.
Image courtesy of the George Family Collection
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Application
criteria:
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Historical significance
SHR criteria (a)
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Historical association significance
SHR criteria (b)
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Aesthetic significance
SHR criteria (c)
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Technical / Research significance
SHR criteria (e)
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Rarity
SHR criteria (f)
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Representativeness
SHR criteria (g)
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Integrity:
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| Hotel Australasia, C. 1926. Image courtesy of the George Family Collection |
Heritage Listings:
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Information
sources / bibliography :
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Bibliography:
Ballantyne,
Kathy, Pers. Comm.,
Bega District News
Bega Standard
Bennett,
Mick and Vicki, Pers. Comm., April
2013.
Dunn’s Almanac, 1921
Farrell,
Bronwyn, Pers. Comm., April 2013
Geraghty,
Lesley, Pers. Comm., April 2013
Gibson,
Gail, Pers. Comm., April 2013
Gippsland Mercury
Gippsland Times
Harris, Lee
Jane, Pers. Comm., April 2013
Henry,
Geoff, Pers. Comm.,
Illawarra and South Coast Steam
Navigation Company Illustrated Handbook, 2nd edition, 1912
Korner,
Joanne, Pers. Comm., April 2013
Magnet-Voice
McDonald,
Margaret, Pers. Comm., April 2013
Miller,
Christine, Pers. Comm.,
Narandera Argus and Riverina
Advertiser
Northern Star
Pambula Voice
Ralph,
Brett, Pers. Comm., April 2013
Raymond,
Pat, Pers. Comm., April 2013
Smith,
Jennifer, Pers. Comm., April 2013
Stanmore,
Frank, Wikipedia entry,
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frank_Stanmore_(rugby_league), retrieved
Sunday Herald
Switzer,
Denise, Pers. Comm.,
Switzer,
Simon, Pers. Comm., April 2013
Sydney
Morning Herald
Turner,
Tania, Pers. Comm., April 2013
Twofold Bay Magnet
Vogt, W.
Whiter,
Allan, via Robert Whiter, Pers. Comm.,
April 2013
Whiter,
Peter, Pers. Comm., April 2013
Whiter,
Robert, Pers. Comm., April 2013
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| Hotel Australasia, C. 1930. Image courtesy of the George Family Collection |
Author and date:
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© Angela
George. All rights reserved.
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April 2015
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Rear of the Hotel Australasia, showing vegetable gardens, out buildings and
water tank, C. 1940s. |
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