Albert Hotel (Daylesford)

From Hotels of Ballarat
There was also an Albert Hotel in Ballarat.
Albert Hotel
Albert Hotel
History
Town Daylesford
Closed 31 December 1915
Known dates 1907-1915
Evidence Building still standing
Google maps -37.562522, 143.863654

The Albert Hotel was a hotel in Daylesford, Victoria, <1907-1915.

Site[edit | edit source]

The hotel was on the corner of Camp and Albert Streets, Daylesford. The building is still standing at 2 Albert Street, Daylesford.

Google Maps:-37.562522, 143.863654

Background[edit | edit source]

History[edit | edit source]

March 1907:

DAYLESFORD.—Albert Hotel.— Superior Accommodation, visitors: tariff on application, Mrs. L. J. M'Pherson, proprietress.[1]

The Albert Hotel was listed for possible closure in 1910:

THE REDUCTION BOARD. DAYLESFORD, Tuesday.—The Licenses Reduction Board began their sittings to-day, when the Albert Hotel was dealt with. Mr. Sutton appeared for the licensee and owner, Albert George Burgess. Decision was reserved until next week.[2]

The hotel was reviewed by the License Reduction Board in 1915:

Sergeant Myers stated that the nearest hotel to the Albert was about 240 yards away, while there was an other about 300 yards away. The house was well conducted, and did a local, tourist, and court and bowling green trade. He considered that the first hotel that should be closed out of the seven was the Town Hall Hotel, although he did not think he was properly competent to judge. Then the Terminus, then Iveson's, then the Royal, then the Shades, then the Federal, then the Albert. By Mr Bromfield: If the Cornish mine was working, the Albert would be the hotel for the carters and many of the miners. I live near the hotel, and know that it is convenient for visitors to the Gardens, and to bowlers and tennis players. By the Chairman: A great number of tourists come to Daylesford.

Superintendent Bennett, re-called, said if he had to delicense the hotels, he would close the Town Hall first, then the Federal, then the Terminus, then Iveson's, then the Jockey Club, then the Royal, then the Shades—in that order. Constable Robinson said that he would delicense the hotels as follows if called upon to do so:- Federal, Iveson's, Town Hall. Jockey Club, Terminus, Albert and Royal. He had been in Daylesford two years. The Albert Hotel was well conducted, and, did a very fair all-round trade. The Jockey Club was about a mile away, the Shades being half that distance. To the Chairman: I think in some parts the outside hotels are required. but not in the case of the Jockey Club or Shades.

Constable Strain said that he had been in Daylesford for ten and a half years. He thought that the hotels should be distributed through the town and the outskirts. During the past two years the Daylesford Hotel had been rebuilt, and was much larger than the original building being now a first-class hotel. It catered for all classes. The Farmers' Arms had also been rebuilt, and was greatly improved. Additions had been made to the Hotel Victoria and to the Shades and Jockey Club, the latter being practically rebuilt. The Fire Brigade Hotel had been considerably added to also, while the Elm Tree had been practically re-built, and was three times as large as previously. By Mr Barr: I think the Albert Hotel is necessary. It could not carry on as a boarding house. I think all the hotels in Daylesford are necessary as they do a decent and legitimate trade and make a good living. The Chairman: We disagree with you on that point. We have dealt with individual hotels that do more business than all the hotels here put together. You gave evidence before that half the hotels would be sufficient. Constable Strain: That was my opinion at the time, I have changed my views since because I have taken more interest in the matter. During the tourist season, about four months, all the hotels and boarding houses are pretty well full, now that five hotels have been closed. I think that four females to every male is about the proportion of tourists. Several boarding-houses have started and given up because they could not make a living all the year round. The boarding houses at Spring Creek all appear to be doing well. By Mr Bromfield: The Albert Hotel, if delicensed, could not be made to pay as a boarding house. When the tourist season is on it is difficult to secure hotel accommodation. By Superintendent Bennett: The hotels I would I like to see left in the outskirts that are on the list are the Terminus and the Shades and the Jockey Club. The Shades and the Jockey Club are about 30 chains apart. I don't think any hotels other than those on the list should be added to it for examination before the board.

Alfred George Burgess, owner and licensee, gave evidence that his hotel was necessary on account of its situation near the Court House and Bowling Green. He had a good trade from the Cornish mine while it was working, and there was every probability of its starting again. The hotel was always full during the tourist season. He considered from ten to fifteen thousand visitors arrived annually. Five bedrooms had been added to the hotel since the board last sat. General commercial travellers patronised the hotel regularly, while he now had three permanent boarders. The stabling was commodious, and there were from ten to a dozen horses put in them every day. By Superintendent Bennett: The meal tariff is now is 6d. Prior to two months ago it was 1s. Beds are 2s each. On an average now I serve 12 or 14 meals per week. I average four or five regular boarders through the year, outside of tourist traffic. The house would not pay as a boarding house. Decision was deferred.[3]

The decision of the Board was to delicense the hotel, and the court paid £500 compensation for the owner and £75 for the licensee.[4][5]


Community Involvement[edit | edit source]

The People[edit | edit source]

  • In March 1907 the publican was Mrs []L. J. McPherson]].[1]
  • From at least March 1910 to 31 December 1915, the publican and owner was Albert George Burgess.[2][5][6]
    • In December 1914 Burgess paid £50 for the license.[7]

See also[edit | edit source]

References[edit | edit source]

  1. 1.0 1.1 1907 'Advertising', The Age (Melbourne, Vic. : 1854 - 1954), 30 March, p. 11. , viewed 27 Dec 2022, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article196159106
  2. 2.0 2.1 1910 'LICENSING ACT. THE REDUCTION BOARD.', The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957), 2 March, p. 10. , viewed 14 Jan 2017, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article10838463
  3. 1915 'LICENSES REDUCTION BOARL', Daylesford Advocate, Yandoit, Glenlyon and Eganstown Chronicle (Vic. : 1914 - 1918), 11 March, p. 3. , viewed 19 Dec 2019, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article119534962
  4. 1915 'LICENSING ACT 1915.', The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957), 10 November, p. 15, viewed 10 September, 2015, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article1578545
  5. 5.0 5.1 1915 'COUNTRY NEWS.', The Ballarat Courier (Vic. : 1869 - 1880; 1914 - 1918), 20 September, p. 6. (DAILY.), viewed 07 May 2017, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article75149569
  6. 1915 'LICENCES REDUCTION BOARD.', The Age (Melbourne, Vic. : 1854 - 1954), 22 March, p. 5. , viewed 03 Jun 2018, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article154933494
  7. 1914 'DAYLESFORD LICENSING COURT', Daylesford Advocate, Yandoit, Glenlyon and Eganstown Chronicle (Vic. : 1914 - 1918), 8 December, p. 2. , viewed 12 Dec 2019, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article119529999

External Links[edit | edit source]