National Hotel (Clunes)

For other hotels with the same or similar names, see National Hotel.

National Hotel

National Hotel, 2014
History
Town	Clunes
Street	Fraser Street
Known dates	1876-2023
Evidence	Building still in use

The National Hotel is a hotel in Clunes, Victoria, <1876-2023.

Site

The National Hotel was in Clunes, now 35 Fraser Street.

Map

Loading map...

{"minzoom":false,"maxzoom":false,"mappingservice":"leaflet","width":"600px","height":"300px","centre":false,"title":"","label":"","icon":"","lines":[],"polygons":[],"circles":[],"rectangles":[],"copycoords":false,"static":false,"zoom":false,"defzoom":14,"layers":["OpenStreetMap"],"image layers":[],"overlays":[],"resizable":false,"fullscreen":false,"scrollwheelzoom":true,"cluster":false,"clustermaxzoom":20,"clusterzoomonclick":true,"clustermaxradius":80,"clusterspiderfy":true,"geojson":"","clicktarget":"","imageLayers":[],"locations":[{"text":"","title":"","link":"","lat":-37.29288888888889,"lon":143.78588888888888,"icon":""}],"imageoverlays":null}

History

In 1883 an unusual accident at the hotel was reported:

"A singular explosion is reported to have occurred at Clunes. The contents of a building used by a pyrotechnist were being removed to the premises of the National Hotel, and among them was a cigar box apparently empty. Mrs. Bliaux, wife of the landlord, was carrying this when it suddenly exploded in her hand with a loud report. Three sheets of corrugated iron ware completely lifted off the kitchen roof, and Mrs. Bliaux was burnt about her hands, arms, and neck. Fortunately her face was missed. The box, it is believed, contained particles of glycerine."

Following the death of J. H. Bliaux in 1887, there were problems in trying to transfer the license as the court would not adjourn the case and was unable grant a new license:

An application by Margaret Pruntz for a license for the National hotel, Clunes, was refused, as the proceedings had not been taken in the proper manner. Mr Pope, who was only instructed immediately prior to the opening of the court, tried hard to get the application adjourned, in order that steps could be taken to obtain a transfer from the official assignee in the estate of Mr J. H. Bliaux, the former licensee hotel, and Mr Neils Nicholson, the owner of the property, stated the circumstances of the case, but the bench refused to grant the adjournment. Mr Thomson, the chairman, intimated that he was favorable to adjourning the case, but his two colleagues, Messrs. Carr and Heron, were against him. The application made was for a new license, which the court had not the power to grant.

In June 1893 the publican, Margaret Bregazzi, was fined for allowing card games to be played in the hotel:

At the Police Court yesterday, before Messrs M'Lennan and Nichol, J’s.P., Margaret Bregazzi, of the National hotel, was proceeded against for allowing card-playing in her hotel on the evening of the 31st May, and also on the morning of 1st June—two separate offences. Inspector Hamilton prosecuted, and Mr Pitcher defended, and on behalf of his client pleaded guilty. He asked for the second case to be withdrawn, as it was actually the one offence, and also for leniency as the defendant had erred through error. A fine of £2 and 15s costs was inflicted for the first offence, the second charge being withdrawn.

In June 1901 the publican donated gold medals for a cycle race from Clunes to Ascot and return:

The Cycling Road Race from Clunes to Ascot and back on Saturday, for two gold medals, presented by Mr Kennedy, of the National hotel, was keenly contested. Twenty-one started for it, the winner being J. Patterson, Clunes, on a Diamond machine with 6 min. handicap, his time being 57 min.; C. Clark, Glendaruel, 2, on a Victor, 6 min. handicap; and D. Finlay son, Ascot, 3, 2 ½ min. handicap. The fastest time was made by J. McLennan, Ballarat, who did the distance in 54 min.

The hotel was sold in January 1922.

It was sold again in November 1923:

HOTEL CHANGES HANDS. During the “Home to Clunes” week the National Hotel in the town was sold by public auction by A. M. Greenfield and Co., of Ballarat, on account of Mrs. Christina Smith, who has for many years conducted this old established house, to Mr. William Lavender, of Laura, South Australia. There was spirited competition between a local aspirant and two strangers, but it was eventually knocked down at £2,380 to Mr. Lavender. The competition revealed the fact that property in Clunes is on a very sound basis, and following the re-erection of the woollen mills, this indicates that Clunes is holding its own. Residents will regret the departure of Mr. and Mrs. Smith from the town.

It was sold again in January 1925:

CLUNES HOTEL SOLD. The National Hotel, Clunes, recently offered at auction by John McGee and Miller, of 54 Market street, Melbourne, has now been sold by them at the reserve price.

The hotel was offered for lease in September 2021 for $299,000.

Community Involvement

Sporting

• Clunes Coursing Club:
  • April 1884, committee meeting.
  • May 1885, meeting to organise the Glengower Stakes.
• Clunes Racing Club, February 1885, stewards meeting.

The People

• In December 1871 the license was granted to R. M. Elder.
• In December 1876 the license was granted to N. Elder.
• In December 1882 J. H. Bliaux had the license renewed.
  • The license was renewed in December 1883 and 1886.
• In December 1887 Margaret Pruntz was unsuccessful in her application to transfer the license from the estate of J. H. Bliaux.
• On June 1889 the license was transferred from Margaret Prunty to W. B. Burn.
• In May 1893 the publican's license was transferred from Samuel Stephens to Margaret Bregazzi.
  • In June 1893 she was fined for allowing card playing.
• In June 1894 the license was transferred from Margaret Bregazzi to Charles Johnston.
• In August 1896 the license was transferred from Charles Johnston to M. J. Cody. Cody had moved from the Albion Hotel.
• In July 1898 Alex D. Spark was given permission to manage the hotel for the Ballarat Brewing Company until December. Spark moved from the Court House Hotel.
• In November 1923 the hotel was transferred from Christina Smith to William H. Lavender.
• In February 1925 the license was transferred from William H. Lavender to Ethel Jeans.
• In January 1931 the license was transferred from Andrew Symington Mackenzie to Jane Ann Mackenzie.
• In December 1936 the license was transferred from Jane Ann McKenzie to John Quarrell.