Band of Hope Hotel

From Hotels of Ballarat
Band of Hope Hotel
Picture needed
History
Town Ballarat
Street Skipton Street
Known dates 1862-1873
Other names No. 3 Band of Hope Hotel

The Band of Hope Hotel was a hotel in Ballarat, Victoria, 1862-1873>. The hotel was also known as the No.3 Band of Hope Hotel.

Site[edit | edit source]

The Band of Hope Hotel was in Redan.[1] It was near the Band of Hope No. 3 shaft, which was on the southern side of the Smythesdale road, Sebastopol.[2] It may also be Murphy's Band of Hope Hotel in 1873 which was in Skipton Street.[3]

Background[edit | edit source]

The application for a license for this hotel created quite a debate in the court. The police inspector, Mr. Kabat, strongly objected to the license on the grounds that the premises were little more than a shanty. The lawyer for the applicant tried to convince the court that the buildings complied with the licensing act:

"Mr Harris-I'm afraid Mr Kabat is going to oppose the stables of the house as he did the stables of the Soldiers' Hill Hotel; however, I may acknowledge at once that the house for which an application is now made for a license and for which I appear, has no stable at all. There was in fact no necessity at the Redan for stables. Mr Kabat-I oppose the present application, because it unfair to grant licenses to persons, who put up shanties, and no more was done in favor of men who expended capital on the erection of substantial buildings in accordance with the requirements of the Act. I oppose the granting of the license as being an injustice to other men. The absence of stables he was content to waive temporarily. His objection was that the house only contained two rooms, and was not otherwise in conformity with the requirements of the Act."
Mr Harris- The house has six rooms, and is within the meaning of the Act. Mr Kabat - Mr. Harris knows very little of the requirements of the Act if he argues that the house is suitable. Mr Harris - My client will soon erect stables, if the Bench deems them necessary. Mr Kabat - I have already pointed out that my objection is that the house only possesses two rooms. The applicant - There are seven rooms, but two of them are some distance off the rest. Mr Kabat - Well I object. The Bench can of course do what it likes. Mr Harris-You mistake matters, Mr Kabat. If the house had but two rooms I would not support the application myself. Mr Kabat- There is but one sitting room and one bedroom. Mr Harris-There is a bar? Mr Kabat- A bar is not a room. Mr Harris - I have a witness who can prove the accommodation possessed by the house. Mr Kabat- Call your witness. Thomas Brooks being called stated that there were five apartments already and were to be two more. Mr Kabat (to the Bench)- I submit that that incorrect, but it is not (Langhter.) The Chairman-We have decided upon postponing the application to the 3rd of July. Mr Kabat {re-opening the debate) held that there should be two sitting rooms for the accommodation of visitors, and that the bar was not to be accounted a room, or one of the sitting rooms. Mr Harris-Does the Beach rule with Mr Kabat that a bar is not a room. It was the most important part of a hotel by far, and in this country more people sat in bars than in sitting rooms properly so called. Mr Kabat read a passage from the act, and contended that the bar was not capable of inclusion as a room. (Addressing, Mr Harris)-When private families call at the house they will not be very well pleased to to be put into the bar. If Mr and Mrs Harris wanted to take tea at the Band of Hope Hotel they would not like to be put into the bar to take it. Mr Harris- When Mr and Mrs Harris go to a hotel to have tea they will have a room to themselves (laughter). Mr Kabat - I object that the house is not within the requirements of the act. Mr Harris- If the bench rule that a bar is a room, will you withdraw your objection ? Mr Kabat - Yes, I will; but I do not think that it is very likely that any sensible men will so rule. Mr Harris (to the Chairman)- Does the bench rule that a bar is a room within the meaning of the act? The Chairman- The majority of the bench does not think so. The application shall be postponed till the 3rd of July.[1]

History[edit | edit source]

The site was described during a license hearing in September 1862, as being in a public park:

PUBLICAN'S LICENSE. Thomas Hartell appeared to apply for a license for the Band of Hope Hotel. Sergeant Boylan objected, on the ground that the proposed house was on a part of the public park. Mr Randall contended that the same objection would apply to the Band of Hope Gold Mining Company's claim. Besides, the license had already been granted to a man named Hughes. Sergeant Boylan said that notice was to be issued for the removal of all dwellings etc., on the public park reserve. Mr Randall-Do you intend to fence in the Band of Hope claim? Mr Clissold-The claim is under a totally different jurisdiction. You had better postpone the application for a month! Mr Randall-The license gives no title to possession. We are willing to take the place on all risks if you will grant the license. Mr Clissold-If you choose to apply to the Board of Land and Works you can do so. We will postpone the application for a fortnight. This was agreed to.[4]

In April 1867 there was a ball held at the hotel:

FREE Ball and Supper at P. Egan's No. 3 Band of Hope Hotel, on Easter Monday.[5]

The hotel was offered for sale in January 1869:

Monday, 1st February, To Hotelkeepers, Storekeepers, and Others, POSITIVE SALE OF the No. 3 BAND OF HOPE HOTEL, And Residence Area, SMYTHES CREEK ROAD, Under Bill of Sale, GEO. E. FINNIS is instructed to sell by auction, on the premises, on Monday, the 1st February, at Twelve o'clock precisely, That well-built, Weatherboard HOUSE, containing thirteen rooms, with Outbuildings, &c., situate on Crown Lands, on the Smythes Creek road, near the Consols No. 3 shaft, and known as THE No. 3 BAND OF HOPE HOTEL. This sale presents a favorable opportunity for any person with a small capital to obtain good business premises in a thriving and rapidly-improving locality. Terms at Sale.[6]


Community Involvement[edit | edit source]

  • In October 1866, the hotel was the venue for the inquest into three miners killed at the Band of Hope mine, John Matthews, Francis Bone, and James Clarke.[2]
  • In July 1868, Mr. Doane, a candidate for the seat of Ballarat West, spoke at a meeting at the hotel.[7] There were about 70 people present, described as filling doors and hallways.

The People[edit | edit source]

See also[edit | edit source]

References[edit | edit source]

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1862 'DISTRICT POLICE COURT.', The Star (Ballarat, Vic. : 1855 - 1864), 25 June, p. 4, viewed 17 February, 2014, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article66325055
  2. 2.0 2.1 1866 'SHOCKING MINING ACCIDENT.', The Age (Melbourne, Vic. : 1854 - 1954), 2 October, p. 6, viewed 26 May, 2015, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article160214500
  3. 3.0 3.1 1873 'LICENSING BENCH.', The Ballarat Star (Vic. : 1865 - 1924), 24 December, p. 4. , viewed 21 Oct 2018, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article201608890
  4. 1862 'DISTRICT POLICE COURT.', The Star (Ballarat, Vic. : 1855 - 1864), 3 September, p. 4, viewed 26 May, 2015, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article66326872
  5. 5.0 5.1 1867 'Advertising', The Ballarat Star (Vic. : 1865 - 1924), 22 April, p. 3. , viewed 06 Nov 2022, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article112874381
  6. 1869 'Advertising', The Ballarat Star (Vic. : 1865 - 1924), 29 January, p. 3. , viewed 09 Jun 2019, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article112882921
  7. 1868 'MR DOANE AT THE No. 3 BAND OF HOPE HOTEL.', The Ballarat Star (Vic. : 1865 - 1924), 27 July, p. 4, viewed 26 May, 2015, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article113846041
  8. 1862 'DISTRICT POLICE COURT.', The Star (Ballarat, Vic. : 1855 - 1864), 4 July, p. 4, viewed 12 May, 2015, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article66325281


External Links[edit | edit source]