Black Hill Hotel (Haddon)

For other hotels with the same or similar names see Black Hill Hotel.

The Haddon Black Hill Hotel was located on the North Eastern aspect of Carngham and Haddon to Windermere roads roundabout.

It was the last hotel in that vicinity to survive the Ballarat Hotel Licensing Reduction Boards 1922 closure decisions. Kenneth owner and Catherine Chisholm licensee presented the strongest argument that the Black Hill Hotel provided superior stables and livestock 120 acre accommodation for passing farmers driving their sheep and cattle to the Ballarat market

It was approximately four hundred meters West of Köpke's Ballarat & Grenville Hotel and the Trunk Lead Hotel's.

Black Hill Hotel

Picture needed
History
Town	Haddon
Street	Cargnham Road
Known dates	1860-1921
Google maps	37°33'27.4"S 143°42'27.8"E

The Black Hill Hotel was a hotel in Haddon, Victoria, <1860-1921>.

Site

The hotel was on the Carngham Road, aka Snake Valley Road, at Haddon. There was also a Black Hill Hotel near Scarsdale, and there may be some confusion between the two.

Background

In 1908 the hotel was described as being a single storey wooden building on 120 acres of land.

Map

Approximate position:

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History

In October 1869 the publican, John Hayes discovered a road accident:

"...John Hayes, landlord of the Black Hill hotel, Haddon, came to the Smythesdale police-camp, and gave information that he had just found a man lying dead under a horse and dray on the range, near the Black Hill...

The Ballarat Hounds used the hotel as the starting point for one of their hunts in September 1891:

On Saturday the " throw off" 'of the Ballarat hounds took place at Hayes' Black Hill Hotel. There was a good muster of the club, and riding and drivng in the lanes were a number of ladies and gentlemen who have been in regular attendance at the meets during the season about to close. Shortly after the start the hounds swept round the banks of Lake Burrumbeet, and after an exciting run they finished at Cole's Hotel, Windermere. Here a fox was let loose, when another brisk chase of fully a mile took place. Altogether the meet proved very enjoyable, the jumping being unattended by accident. The following were noticed as being present:- Master (R. A. Affleck) on Dayspring, Mr. Mogg on Mountjoy, Mr Jahn on Lawyer, Mr. Austin on Lawrence, George Scobie on a bay, Alf Scobie on Minerva, Ralf on Comet, Simpson on Ondit and few few others. The final meet of the season will be held on Saturday next, at Kopke's Trunk Lead.

In May 1908 the hotel was included on a list of hotels to have their license reviewed by the License Reduction Board:

BLACK HILL HOTEL, SMYTHESDALE. Inspector Balchin said the hotel was an old wooden building, well kept and conducted, but not required. Constable Olney, in supporting this evidence said there were too many hotels in the Smythesdale district, but he would not suggest which should be closed. A number of witnesses on the other hand considered that the Black Hill Hotel, of which M. Hayes is owner and licensee, was required. The board reserved its decision.

The Licenses Reduction Board sat yesterday at the Supreme Court Chambers, and the following hotels were dealt with: BLACK HILL HOTEL. Black Hill hotel; owner and licensee, Mrs M. Hayes, for whom Mr J. B. Pearson appeared. Licensing-Inspector Balchin said the hotel was situated about 11 miles from Ballarat, on the road from Ballarat to Carngham. The hotel was a single storied wooden building, was in very good repair, was well-kept and furnished, and well conducted. It contained 14 rooms. The assessment was £30. The statutory number of hotels for the district was nine, whereas the number at present in existence was 19. He thought the closing, would cause no inconvenience. The owner and occupier was Mrs Hayes. To Mr Pearson—The nearest hotel was two miles away.

Constable Olney said the hotel was situated about eight miles from Carngham, and the Cardigan hotel was 1½ miles, away in a north-easterly direction. There were three hotels within a certain radius, and he thought two were sufficient. They were all well kept, and all got a fair share of the business. In the district was also the Ballarat and Grenville hotel. There was more settlement near the Black Hill hotel than near the other hotel. Mr Pearson said the board should decide upon the comparative inconvenience which, would be caused by the closing of one of the hotels. Constable Brown, stationed at Snake Valley, said the Black Hill hotel was seven or eight miles from his station, and there was a considerable traffic along the road which led from his station to the Black Hill hotel. Black Hill hotel was much more convenient than the other two because there was water there. There was accommodation for stock at the hotel in question, but none at the other hotel. Mrs. M. Hayes said she had been the licensee for 25 years. The only help she had at the hotel was that of her daughter. Her husband was dead, and she depended solely on the money received from the hotel for her sustenance. There were 120 acres of land included in the property, but it was very poor.

Thomas Oddie, grazier, said the accommodation at the Black Hill hotel was as good as could be obtained in any country district. He thought it would be a great inconvenience if the hotel were closed. The 120 acres belonging to the hotel was very poor land, so poor that "it would starve a rabbit.” Victor Wendt, residing at Snake Valley, said he drove a coach from Snake Valley to Ballarat. He picked up about eight passengers every morning at the Black Hill hotel. The hotel was much more central than any other hotel along the road he travelled. John Walton, licensed carrier, and travelling storekeeper, stated that the hotel was convenient to him at any rate as it was about half-way between Ballarat and the terminus of his round. He had several customers in the vicinity of the hotel, and the removal of the license would mean that his customers would, have to travel another two in miles to get their parcels. Thomas O'Shannessy, grazier, of Carngham, said that the hotel was of immense advantage to tho people in the district. John Morton, farmer, stated that the hotel was of advantage because duplicate parts of harvesters, etc., could be sent there, and the farmers could call for them. He resided five miles away from the post-office, and if the letters were not forwarded to the Black Hill hotel great delay would be caused in the delivery of letters. A. M'Cook, grazier, thought the hotel should not be closed. Eight other witnesses gave evidence, and all stated that the closing of the hotel would cause great inconvenience The decision was reserved.

On 22 March 1915, the hotel was included on a list of hotels to be deprived of their licenses. This list was compiled 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.

In March 1918 Thomas Brooks was arrested at the hotel. The previous day he had stolen a horse and cart in Ballarat and had travelled out to the Windermere Hotel. After staying the night he tried to pass a forged cheque, before heading off the the Balck Hill Hotel.

The hotel license was again reviewed in March 1920 by the Licenses Reduction Board:

BLACK HILL HOTEL. In the case of the Black Hill hotel, on the Carngham road, Mr J. B. Pearson appeared for the owner (Kenneth Chisholm) and the licensee (Catherine Chisholm). Constable Dunck, of Smythesdale, gave evidence that the hotel was a weatherboard building, very old, in fair condition, and fairly well furnished. He was not in a position to state the general conduct of the house. The Ballarat and Grenville hotel, which was not far away, was the better building. One of them could be closed without causing inconvenience to the public. Kenneth Chisholm, farmer and owner of the Black Hill hotel, and Mrs Chisholm, licensee, gave evidence as to the convenience of the hotel to the public. The board reserved its decision in all cases.

The decision of the Licensing Court was to close the hotel on 31 December 1920. The court was asked to reconsider the case as there were some unusual features. In February 1921, the court visited the hotel, and the Ballarat and Grenville Hotel which was only a mile away. The Black Hill Hotel was in the Dowling Forest district, and the Ballarat and Grenville was in the Sebastopol district. If the Ballarat and Grenville remained open, then two other hotels in Sebastopol would be forced to closed because of the restriction on the number of hotels per district. If it was closed, the Black Hill Hotel could remain and no other hotels would be affected. The court decided to change its decision and allow the Black Hill Hotel to remain, and to close the Ballarat and Grenville Hotel.

In December 1921 the publican was fined for breaches of the licensing laws:

SMYTHESDALE. POLICE COURT. At the local court on Wednesday, before Messrs W. W. Harris, P.M., and M. M'Menamin, J.P., five men were charged with having been illegally on the premises of the Black Hill hotel, Haddon, on Sunday, 11th December, without lawful excuse. The defendants pleaded guilty and were each lined 5/. with 4/ costs. Catherine Chisholm, licensee of the above hotel, was fined £2, with 8/ costs for allowing persons on her licensed premises on the date mentioned.

Community Involvement

• Water Commission, June 1875, meeting to select a school site.

Political

• January 1894, candidates for election to State Parliament, Anderson and Vear, both gave speeches at the hotel.

Sporting

• July 1881, the Haddon Hunt, hounds and horses started and finished at the hotel.
• July 1890, the Ballarat Hounds took a rest break at the hotel.
• September 1891, the Ballarat Hunt, started at the hotel.
• August 1898, cycling race from the hotel to the Cattle Yards Hotel.

The People

• Joseph Michael Hayes - 1860
• In October 1869 the publican was John Hayes.
  • His license was renewed in December 1873, 1874, 1876, 1877, 1878, 1879, 1881, 1882 and 1883.
• In December 1884 the publican's license was granted to Mary Hayes.
  • She held the license in May 1908.
• In March 1920 the hotel was owned by Kenneth Chisholm and the publican was Mrs. Caroline Chisholm.
  • In December 1921 the publican, Caroline Chisholm, was fined.