Golden Fleece Hotel (Lydiard Street)

For other Golden Fleece Hotels, see Golden Fleece Hotel.

Golden Fleece Hotel

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History
Town	Ballarat
Street	Lydiard Street
Opened	1854
Known dates	1854-1859

The Golden Fleece Hotel was in Ballarat, Victoria, 1854-1859>

Site

The Golden Fleece Hotel was in Lydiard Street, Ballarat. The site was later occupied by the English, Scottish and Australian Bank. More information on the site from 1870:

...In Lydiard street where the Colonial Bank now stands, there was a building known in Stockade days, as the Arcade. It subsequently became the Golden Fleece Hotel...

The old bank is now (2018) used as the offices of Baird and McGregor, and a Quality Inn.

Background

The name comes from an ancient Greek story about the golden fleece of a winged ram, that was a symbol of authority and kingship.

History

The hotel was built in 1854 which makes it among the earliest hotels in Ballarat. The hotel was built by William Surplice. Withers recorded in 1888 that Surplice was a surveyor. The publican, Worth was:

"...a teller in the Bank of New South Wales, who threw up the concern in disgust because of some alleged immoralities on the part of two occupants of the house. Redman, less fastidious or more hopeful, stepped into the breach, and he is eloquent to this day upon the dodges and difficulties that surrounded the license question as it concerned the fortunes of the Fleece at that time."

The hotel had a theatre space, known as the Arcade Rooms. In June 1855 the Amateur Musical Society performed there:

An Amateur Musical Society has been lately organised, which promises well, as, on a late occasion, it came out very creditably, in the Golden Fleece, in conjunction with Mrs. Hanmer and her daughter, Miss Julia Hanmer. These ladies were well and deservedly received in the pieces of the 'Waterman' and the 'Maid of all Work,' being ably assisted by amateur talent, in the persons of well known literary and professional characters. The performance, it is believed, was in aid of the contribution to the patriotic fund in course of collection here at present.

Also in June the hotel had "dissolving views":

Another refined and pleasing exhibition is now open to us in the form of certain dissolving views, exhibited at the Golden Fleece Hotel every night.

In September 1855 the Ballarat Literary and Dramatic Society held a performance to raise funds for the Miners' Hospital.

A man was robbed while sleeping in the hotel in June 1858:

ROBBERY FROM THE PERSON.- Robert Catler was brought up charged with having stolen from the person of George Philps, on the night of the 17th inst., a ring value £10, a knife, and 9s in silver coin. From the evidence of the prosecutor and another person it appeared that prosecutor had gone into the Golden Fleece Hotel on Thursday evening, and while lying asleep on a sofa the prisoner had taken the property in question from his person. The prisoner who had been "in trouble" before, was committed to take his trial at the next Circuit Court.

Community Involvement

• In July 1855 the hotel was the venue for a Fourth of July Dinner, attended by 150 Americans and friends.

The People

• In 1854 the hotel was owned by its original owner and licensee, Charles Surplice.
• In 1854 the publican was named Worth. When he left, George Redman took over.
• In June 1858 the publican's license was granted to Robert Burrell Dent.
  • In 1858 the hotel was operated by Robert Burrell Dent and Joseph Southward. Their partnership ended in September 1858, and Dent carried on at the hotel.
  • In May 1859 Robert B. Dent's application for the license was postponed for 14 days. The hotel being named as Dent's Hotel.