Bald Hills Hotel

From Hotels of Ballarat
Bald Hills Hotel
Picture needed
History
Town Bald Hills
Street Cnr. Gilles and Jubilee Roads
Opened 4 August 1860
Closed 1915
Known dates 1860-1915
Google maps Google maps: 37°23'59.7"S 143°54'58.8"E -37.399906, 143.916342

The Bald Hills Hotel was a hotel in Bald Hills, Victoria, 1860-1915.

Site[edit | edit source]

The Bald Hills Hotel was in Bald Hills.[1]. It is shown on the 1880 Creswick Goldfields map.[2]

Location[edit | edit source]

Google maps: 37°23'59.7"S 143°54'58.8"E -37.399906, 143.916342

Background[edit | edit source]

Also known as Barclay's hotel in the 1860s.[3] The hotel, on the banks of Slattery's Creek, was also known in the 1890s as Slattery's Hotel.[4]

History[edit | edit source]

The hotel was opened 4 August 1860:

Since Saturday Mr. James Barclay has opened a public house in the said locality, called " The Bald Hills Hotel."[5]

On Boxing Day 1861, the hotel was the promoter of a sports day:

CHRISTMAS TIDE.-Boxing day passed off very pleasantly at the Bald Hills. Mr Barclay of the Bald Hills Hotel, having been indefatigable in providing fun and frolic for the public. There were foot races of all descriptions, leaping over hurdles, and jumping in sacks. The two landlords Messrs Barclay and Looby, created much amusement by jumping in sacks. Mr Looby proved the winner. The result of the horse races is as follows:-The flat race, for a silver watch, was won by Mr O'Brien, and the hurdle race, for which there were seven entries, was won by Mr Looby. Although there was a very large assemblage of people the greatest harmony prevailed during the day. The people had evidently met to enjoy themselves, and were well pleased with the amusements.[6]

In April 1862 the hotel was the venue for a farewell dinner for a successful miner:

The Homeward Bound Company cleared last week £10 each after paying expenses. One of the members of this company, John Sampson, who with his wife and family are going home by the Marco Polo, had a farewell party at Barclay's Hotel on Saturday night. He is said to be taking home £2000, the proceeds of his industry as a gold miner.[7]

In December 1862 the publican, Anne Barclay was granted a night license.[8]

The hotel was described in the license application of June 1864:

ANNE BARCLAY, Publican, house at Bald Hills, owned by applicant ; two sitting-rooms, five bedrooms ; now licensed ; sign, Bald Hills Hotel.[9]

The publican was fined for Sunday trading in December 1897:

At the police court on Tuesday, Mrs Prescott, licensee of the Bald Hills hotel, was fined £2, with 5s 7d costs, for Sunday trading on 21st November.[10]

In December 1897 four youths were fined for their behavior at the hotel:

At the police court on Tuesday four youths named Harrington and O'Brien were charged with creating a disturbance at the Bald Hills hotel on 21st November. The evidence of Mr and Mrs Prescott, licensees of the hotel, showed that the defendants had conducted themselves in a very rowdy manner, and besides using obscene language they had amused themselves by throwing boulders on the roof. Phil. Harrington was fined £1. Pat. Harrington 10s, and M. O’Brien 10; whilst each had £1 costs awarded against him. Mr F. Ham appeared for the Prescotts, and Mr Pearson defended.[11]

On 22 March 1915, the hotel was included on a list of hotels to be deprived of their licenses. This list was complied by the Licenses Reduction Board in Melbourne. Licensing district hearings for hotels on this list were to be held at the Ballarat Supreme Court on 11 May.[1]

In December 1915 the hotel owners and licensee were awarded compensation by the Licenses Reduction Board:

Bald Hills Hotel, Bald Hills; owner, John Slattery; licensee, Mary Slattery. Mr J. B. Pearson appeared for the owner and licensee, and the Board awarded the owner £160, and licensee £50.[12]

The hotel closed before the end of 1915.[13]

Community Involvement[edit | edit source]

Inquests[edit | edit source]

  • August 1862, on James Barclay, the hotel's publican who committed suicide at the hotel.[14]

Mining[edit | edit source]

A meeting of the Eclipse Gold Mining Company was held on Friday night, at Barclay's Hotel, when a Secretary and Treasurer were appointed. The Company will consist of 175 shares, and shares are rapidly taken up.[3]

Political[edit | edit source]

  • In September 1894, Alexander Peacock a candidate in the seat of Allendale and Clunes, held a political meeting at the hotel.[4]

The People[edit | edit source]

See also[edit | edit source]

References[edit | edit source]

  1. 1.0 1.1 1915 'LICENSES REDUCTION BOARD.', The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957), 23 March, p. 10, viewed 13 February, 2014, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article1504941
  2. Creswick Goldfield 1880, Energy and Earth Resources, Victorian Government, http://earthresources.efirst.com.au/product.asp?pID=400&cID=26&c=44141
  3. 3.0 3.1 1861 'CRESWICK AND BALD HILLS.', The Star (Ballarat, Vic. : 1855 - 1864), 3 December, p. 1. (SUPPLEMENT TO THE STAR), viewed 01 Jun 2017, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article66329892
  4. 4.0 4.1 1894 'Advertising', The Ballarat Star (Vic. : 1865 - 1924), 11 September, p. 3. , viewed 21 Apr 2017, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article209218744
  5. 5.0 5.1 1860 'CRESWICK NEWS.', The Star (Ballarat, Vic. : 1855 - 1864), 6 August, p. 4, viewed 9 July, 2014, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article66057483
  6. 1861 'BALD HILLS AND CRESWICK.', The Star (Ballarat, Vic. : 1855 - 1864), 31 December, p. 1. (SUPPLEMENT TO THE STAR), viewed 29 Jan 2020, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article66330464
  7. 1862 'BALD HILLS AND CRESWICK.', The Star (Ballarat, Vic. : 1855 - 1864), 16 April, p. 1. (SUPPLEMENT TO THE STAR.), viewed 26 Jan 2020, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article66323357
  8. 1862 'CRESWICK POLICE COURT.', The Star (Ballarat, Vic. : 1855 - 1864), 20 December, p. 1. (SUPPLEMENT TO THE STAR), viewed 04 Nov 2016, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article66329646
  9. 9.0 9.1 1864 'Advertising', The Star (Ballarat, Vic. : 1855 - 1864), 23 June, p. 3. , viewed 03 Nov 2016, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article66345902
  10. 10.0 10.1 1897 'CRESWICK.', The Ballarat Star (Vic. : 1865 - 1924), 17 December, p. 4. , viewed 26 Jan 2020, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article215786751
  11. 1897 'CRESWICK.', The Ballarat Star (Vic. : 1865 - 1924), 2 December, p. 1. , viewed 29 Jan 2020, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article215786019
  12. 12.0 12.1 1915 'LICENSES REDUCTION BOARD', The Evening Echo (Ballarat, Vic. : 1914 - 1918), 3 December, p. 4. (FOURTH EDITION), viewed 15 Jan 2024, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article241693504
  13. 1915 'DELICENSED', The Evening Echo (Ballarat, Vic. : 1914 - 1918), 31 December, p. 4. (FOURTH EDITION), viewed 04 Feb 2018, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article241695876
  14. 1862 'LAMENTABLE SUICIDE AT THE BALD HILLS.', The Herald (Melbourne, Vic. : 1861 - 1954), 21 August, p. 6. , viewed 26 Jan 2020, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article244226090
  15. Publicans of the 19th Century
  16. 1861 'PUBLICANS' LICENSES.', The Star (Ballarat, Vic. : 1855 - 1864), 24 June, p. 2 Supplement: SUPPLEMENT TO THE STAR., viewed 9 July, 2014, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article66340154
  17. 1862 'NEWS AND NOTES.', The Star (Ballarat, Vic. : 1855 - 1864), 19 August, p. 2, viewed 9 July, 2014, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article66326482
  18. 1863 'CRESWICK POLICE COURT.', The Star (Ballarat, Vic. : 1855 - 1864), 27 June, p. 4. , viewed 27 Jun 2019, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article72515317
  19. 1865 'POLICE.', The Ballarat Star (Vic. : 1865 - 1924), 16 January, p. 4. , viewed 18 Nov 2018, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article66059437
  20. 1886 'CRESWICK.', The Ballarat Star (Vic. : 1865 - 1924), 22 December, p. 4. , viewed 18 May 2016, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article210840183
  21. 1894 'CLUNES.', The Ballarat Star (Vic. : 1865 - 1924), 20 June, p. 3. , viewed 05 Feb 2020, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article206502500


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