Emma Spargo

From Hotels of Ballarat
Emma Spargo
Born Emma Richards
Occupation Publican
Hotel owner
Years active 1886-1913
Known for Broomfield Gully Hotel
Broomfield Hotel
Emu Hotel
Home town Broomfield
Ballarat
Spouse(s) James Spargo
Children Elizabeth Stevens Spargo (1868)

Emma Spargo was a publican and hotel owner in the Ballarat district, <1886-1913>

History[edit | edit source]

Emma Richards married James Spargo. They had several children including:

  • Elizabeth Stevens (1868) in Creswick[1]

In November 1866, Emma and her brother were in court for arguing:

CRESWICK-On Friday, 16th November, before Mr Bowling, P.M.. Mr Richardson, and Mr Budden, J.'sP., the following civil causes were disposed of: - H. S. Richards v Emma Spargo, using abusive and insulting words to complainant in a public place with intent to provoke a breach of the peace. There was also a cross summons, Spargo v H. S. Richards, and an information by E. Spargo for H. S. Richards to be bound over to the peace. Mr Burton appeared for H. S. Richards, and Mr O'Dee for Mrs Spargo, and all the causes being connected, they were taken together. It appeared that H. S. Richards and Emma Spargo were brother and sister, and that unfortunately some altercation having taken place, she had used her tongue most unpleasantly towards her brother. In the first cause Mrs Spargo was fined £3, with £1 4s costs, the second was dismissed, and both parties bound over in £25 each to keep the peace for three months.[2]

Spargo was listed as the publican of the Broomfield Gully Hotel at Broomfield in 1886.[3]

Emma moved into Ballarat, where she became the publican of the Emu Hotel on the corner of Armstrong and Skipton Streets. In 1897 she was fined for selling "fake" Jamaican rum:

WHAT IS JAMAICA RUM ? BALLARAT, Tuesday. To-day, at the city court, Emma Spargo, landlady of the Emu Hotel, Armstrong-street, pleaded guilty to having "unlawfully had in her possession for sale rum to which a false trade description had been applied, purporting that it had been made in Jamaica." Excise-inspector Yorke-Rattray appeared to prosecute on behalf of the Customs department. A fine of 40s., with 40s. costs, was imposed.[4]

She was fined for breaches of the licensing laws in 1902:

AN OPEN BAR DOOR. Mrs Emma Spargo was charged, under section 143 of the Licensing Act 1890, with leaving the bar door of her hotel, the Emu, at the corner of Armstrong and Skipton streets, open at about 2.30 p.m. on the 31st August — a Sunday. Sub-Inspector Steel prosecuted, and Mr Fred. Ham appeared on behalf of the accused, who pleaded guilty. Sub-Inspector Steel said that Constables Carey and Byrne had visited the place on the date mentioned, when they saw Mr Spargo in the passage, and when he saw the policemen he went to close the door, which was standing open. There were five men standing there at the time. A fine of £5 was imposed, and two weeks' time was allowed in which to pay the money. A second charge of Sunday trading was withdrawn.[5]

In 1907 she is mentioned as the owner of the Broomfield Hotel, and was forced to take over the license when the publican walked out of the business:

A peculiar dispute arose regarding the transfer of the license of the Broomfield Hotel from Geo. Harry to E. Spargo, the owner. From the evidence tendered it appeared that Harry, who had seven years lease of the hotel, suddenly left the house, and took all the furniture. When approached by Mr Drew, the hotel broker, who was acting for Mrs Spargo, to transfer the license Harry asked for £150 compensation. This was declined, and on the following day Drew again approached Harry to sign the transfer, but he declined only, however, asking for £4O compensation on this occasion. At a later stage Harry made a considerable reduction in his request, which they (the applicants) declined to give. Mrs Spargo said that Harry had taken all the furniture away, including some of her own property. He had deserted, the premises and in consequence of such she had to take possession. The bench agreed to grant Mrs Spargo a special, certificate, issued under the seal of the court.[6]

Her daughter Elizabeth took over the Broomfield hotel, but it was destroyed by fire on 23 October 1913:

ALLENDALE. — Spargo's Broomfield Gully Hotel, containing 11 rooms, was, with its contents, totally destroyed by fire about 1.30 a.m. on Thursday. Miss E. Spargo, the licensee, was awakened by a crackling noise. She found one of the rooms enveloped in flames, and she barely bad time to escape. Nothing whatever was saved. The premises and furniture were insured.[7]

See also[edit | edit source]

References[edit | edit source]

  1. Australian Birth Index, Victoria, 1868, Ref. No. 2082
  2. 1866 'POLICE.', The Ballarat Star (Vic. : 1865 - 1924), 19 November, p. 4. , viewed 29 Dec 2016, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article112859475
  3. 1886 'CRESWICK.', The Ballarat Star (Vic. : 1865 - 1924), 22 December, p. 4. , viewed 31 May 2016, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article210840183
  4. 1897 'COUNTRY NEWS.', The Age (Melbourne, Vic. : 1854 - 1954), 14 April, p. 6. , viewed 29 Dec 2016, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article193699817
  5. 1902 'AN OPEN BAR DOOR.', The Ballarat Star (Vic. : 1865 - 1924), 13 September, p. 6. , viewed 29 Dec 2016, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article211467704
  6. 1907 'COUNTRY NEWS.', The Ballarat Star (Vic. : 1865 - 1924), 10 December, p. 6. , viewed 24 Dec 2016, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article211290142
  7. 1913 'FIRES.', The Age (Melbourne, Vic. : 1854 - 1954), 24 October, p. 11. , viewed 25 Dec 2016, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article196231466

External links[edit | edit source]