John Coles

John Coles
Occupation	Publican
Years active	1861-1891
Known for	Falcon Hotel Windermere Hotel
Home town	Weatherboard Windermere

John Coles was a publican in the Ballarat district, <1861-1879>

History

Coles held the license for the Falcon Hotel (sometimes referred to as the Falcon Inn) in 1861-1862. The hotel was described as being near Weatherboard Hill, near Learmonth.

There were a number of breaches of the licensing laws and eventually Coles was refused a license. The breaches included illegal card games:

Police v John Coles,landlord of the Falcon Hotel, Learmonth, for allowing the playing of cards in his licensed house; defendant admitted the offence, but pleaded ignorance as to its illegality; he was cautioned by the Bench and the case dismissed.

In October 1862 his license was restored, but under strict conditions:

John Coles applied for a district publican's license for the Falcon Inn, near the Weatherboard Hill, in the parish of Burrumbeet. The bench having some doubts as to whether the application should be granted or not on the grounds that the applicant had formerly been refused a license, ordered the court to be adjourned for a quarter of an hour. On the re-opening of the court, the applicant was informed that his application was granted, but that the bench had considerable hesitation in doing so, owing to their doubts as to applicant being a fit man to conduct a public house properly. Special instructions would be given to the police to report the house if not conducted in a very different manner to that in which the present applicant when formerly licensed conducted his business. If reported against by the police the license would be instantly cancelled by the bench.

In December 1872 and December 1873, Coles was granted the license for the Windermere Hotel.

On 26 February 1879 the Windermere Hotel was destroyed by fire:

On Wednesday evening, at about nine o'clock, Cole's Windermere hotel, half-way between Ballarat and Burrumbeet was entirely destroyed by fire, together with all the furniture, stock, and other contents. It appears that the fire originated in a room occupied by a lodger, and was caused by the candle he -was burning setting alight to the curtains of the window, and thence communicating with the lining and roof. On the alarm having been given by the lodger, Mr and Mrs Cole, with others, attempted to stay the progress of the flames, but without success, and the fire made headway with such rapidity that it was found impossible to save any part of the large building or its contents. The loss to Mr Cole is about £900, none of which is covered by insurance, although he had made application for a policy within the last few days. Added to this disaster, we regret to state that only last week Mr Cole sustained a serious loss by the death of the famous stallion Young Scotchman, which was valued at £500. We observe by advertisement that a meeting is to be held at Comber's hotel, this evening (Friday), to assist Mr Cole to some extent in the midst of his misfortunes, in which it is hoped his friends and neighbors will take part.

Coles' license at Windermere was renewed in December 1883.

In June 1891 Coles was called for jury service in Ballarat:

The fine inflicted on Mr Coles, publican, of Windermere, for non-attendance as a juror at the County Court on Monday, was yesterday remitted. Mr Coles attended at the court, and stated that his absence was due to a sudden fit of illness. His Honor considered the explanation of the missing juror satisfactory, and the fine was accordingly struck off.