Emu Hotel (Ballarat)

Emu Hotel

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History
Town	Ballarat
Street	cnr Armstrong and Eyre Street
Closed	1908
Known dates	1858-1908

The Emu Hotel was a hotel in Ballarat, Victoria, <1858-1908.

Site

The Emu Hotel was in Armstrong Street, One source has it on the corner with Skipton Street. and another places it opposite the Ebenezer Church. Also referred to as the Emu Inn in September 1858.

Map

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Background

In May 1908 the hotel was included on a list of 47 hotels to be delicensed by the License Reduction Board.

History

The business was sometimes known as the Emu Inn.

In October 1858 an attempt was made to burn the hotel down:

The house of Mr F. M'Lean, the proprietor of the Emu Inn, Ballaarat, was maliciously set fire to a few days ago, with the intent on the part of the incendiary of burning the inmates to death. The crime is suspected to have been committed by a man named Stewart, who on being refused drink by Mrs M'Lean, said he would burn the house, and asked a match of a Mr Smith for that purpose. He did not get it, and then went off threatening to carry his design into effect.

In November 1865 a man was fined in the Ballarat Police District Court for breaking the hotel's window:

BREAKING GLASS.-James Baker, alias Banks, was charged with having broken a pane of glass in the bar of the Emu hotel, Skipton street, on 30th September. Mr M'Lean deposed that on the date mentioned the prisoner came into the bar and commenced to pull about a woman who was sitting down in front of the counter. Witness wanted him to leave the woman alone, but he continued joking with her until he broke the window. Mrs M'Lean deposed that the prisoner kept "fumbling" about the woman, and trying to kiss her, holding up his mouth to her face like a child to its mother's. He kissed her dozens of times, and didn't seem disposed to leave her company, but when he put his elbow through the window in the course of his toyings, he wished to get away, at once. He was then detained and given into custody. He was afterwards bailed out but he did not appear in answer to his bail, and a warrant was consequently issued for his arrest. The prisoner was arrested on the White Horse ranges. He denied kissing the woman as alleged, and stated that he had a wife of his own at home. He could not however, dispute that the window had been broken. It cost £1 7s 6d to repair the damages, and he was ordered to pay that amount, and a fine of £1, or suffer seven days' imprisonment.

In April 1867, bones were discovered near the hotel:

Mr. Henry Morgan writes to the Ballarat Star in reference to the human remains recently found near the Emu Hotel, mention ing that in 1853 a man known as " Jack the sailor" was drowned (as it was believed accidentally) in a worked-out claim at Golden-point, and the body being recovered, it was buried intact on the brow of the hill, at the place where the bones have lately been discovered.

In October 1878 the publican, R. F. McLean was advertising improvements to the hotel:

WANTED KNOWN, that R. F. M'LEAN, of the EMU HOTEL, Armstrong street, has just added extensive improvements to his well-known house. Every comfort can now be had, as the hotel hotel is second to none in Ballarat for comfort. The rooms are large and well-aired; baths; first-class wines and spirits; good clean beds. Commodious stabling, free, Robert F. M'Lean, proprietor.

In December 1884 the police objected to the license renewal from Susan M'Lean claiming she rented cottages to prostitutes:

The only application for renewal of publicans' licenses objected to before the City licensing bench yesterday morning was that of Susan M'Lean, of the Emu-hotel, Armstrong street. Objection was taken by the police on the ground that Mrs McLean was the owner of three cottages adjoining the hotel, which were let to prostitutes. Mr Gaunt appeared on behalf of the applicant. Sergeant Carden, who was called, deposed to visiting the houses mentioned, owing to certain complaints made, and two of them he found occupied by two well-known characters named Persy Jouva and Annie Ross. The tenant of the third house was a Mrs Cullen, against whom nothing of this nature was stated, though she had previously been before the bench on a charge of robbery. Witness spoke to Mrs McLean about the presence of these objectionable characters. She said she did not know they were so bad, and that one of them had been living there a great many years. Mrs McLean, however, promised to get rid of them. As the women were still in the place when he visited it some days afterwards, he told her that she would be served with notice of objection to the renewal of her license. In answer to Mr Gaunt, witness said that the woman Jouva had only been in the house for about nine days, while Ross had been there for a few weeks. Plain-clothes Constable Gray stated that he had served the notice of objection. Mrs McLean had then given notice to her objectionable tenants, who had left the houses. She said the houses had been taken for them by other woman, and she was very sorry they ever came into her houses. Mr Gaunt said he would prove that the places were taken by women who said their husbands were miners and worked at Allendale. Susan McLean, the applicant, was then called and gave evidence as to the letting of the cottages. - Mr Parkinson—“ Do you not know that the house occupied by Ross has been a common brothel for two or three years?” Witness I knew nothing of that. It was occupied by a man named Williams before.” Witness denied that the house of the woman Cullen was frequented by low characters, but Mr Thomson said the bench were anything but satisfied with the way in which she gave her evidence. Mr Gaunt asked for an adjournment if the bench considered any further evidence necessary, as to the good character of the applicant’s house. A boarder at the hotel, named Alexander Clark, who was next called, deposed that he had never seen any loose women congregate on the premises. They might come in for a drink, but were never allowed to stay. Mr Thomson said the bench would give the applicant every opportunity of clearing herself, and accordingly adjourned the application till the 9th January, for further evidence.

In 1897 the publican was fined for selling "fake" 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.

In January 1907 a man was in court on charges of having stolen money from the till:

William James Austin aged 23 was arrested by Constable Youdan on a charge of the larceny of 3/6. Austin called at the Emu Hotel Skipton street, kept by Mrs Tomkins and is alleged to have been caught by the barmaid with his hand in the till. She accused him of abstracting 3/6, which he denied He left and was followed by the girl who give him into custody.

The City Court on Friday decided that the charge against William James Austin of having stolen 3/6 from the till of Jenkins's Emu Hotel was unsustained, and discharged him.

At the Licensing Court 1908 hearings, the hotel was one of 47 listed for closure.

A compensation hearing was held in September 1908:

EMU HOTEL, BALLARAT. Owners, John Miller, Johnstone, William Miller Johnstone, Charles Johnstone McLean, James M'Lean, and Rubena Wilcock; licensee, Mrs Ellen Jenkins. Alexander Hunter, City valuer, said the Emu hotel was situate in Armstrong street. The municipal valuation since 1904 was £45, and the rental 20s. It contained 12 rooms, and was built partly of brick and partly of wood. De-licensed it would be suitable as a private residence, and would bring a rental of from 7s 6d to 8s. George Bunting said the building contained 12 rooms, and was built partly of wood and partly of brick. Based on a yearly rental of £52 he would place a capital value of £650 on the property, and thought 12½ years a reasonable purchase. De-licensed he thought the building would let as a dwelling, and would bring in 8s a week as rent. The land he said was worth £2 a foot. Mrs Ellen Jenkins, licensee, also gave evidence. The decision was reserved.

Community Involvement

• In October 1864 the hotel was the venue for a political meeting by Mr. G. G. Morton.
• In August 1865, Thomas Cowan, a candidate in the Ballarat West election, held a meeting at the hotel.

The People

• In September 1858 Robert F. McLean's application for a license was postponed for one week.
  • His license was renewed in May 1859 and June 1861.
• In 1862-1864 the publican was Robert J. C. McLean. In 1863 he missed the first licensing court hearing and his case was postponed for one week.
• In December 1873 the license was granted to R. T. McLean.
• In October 1878 the publican was R. F. McLean.
• In December 1884 the publican was Susan McLean.
• From at least April 1897 to 1902, the publican was Emma Spargo. In 1902 she was fined for leaving the bar door open on a Sunday.
• In January 1907 the hotel licensee was Jenkins.