Prince Regent Hotel

Prince Regent Hotel

Picture needed
History
Town	Ballarat
Street	748 Main Road
Opened	1857
Closed	1922
Known dates	1857-1922
Evidence	Building still in existence
Google maps	-37.586033, 143.867011

The Prince Regent Hotel was a hotel in Ballarat, Victoria, 1857-1922.

Site

Located on the Plank Road at the foot of the Prince Regent Gully. Polychrome patterned brickwork and arch features of the existing building are also found on the former Ballarat East Post Office - designed by John Hudson Marsden and built 1884-1885. This address in 2018 was 748 Main Road, Canadian, Ballarat.

Map

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Background

The hotel opened in 1857:

APPLICATIONS FOR LICENSES. Mr Wigley applied on behalf of Augustus Puettlekow, for a license for the Prince Regent Hotel, on the Plank Road. Postponed on account of the house not being ready.

It was closed by the Licence Reduction Board in 1922.

History

In 1857 the publican was charged:

SUMMONS CASES. Tobin v. Puttelkow. This was a remanded case from yesterday, and was a summons issued against the landlord of the Prince Regent Hotel, for selling without a license. Mr Wigley, who appeared for the defendant, produced a license which was issued after the date of the offence, but he argued that it took effect as from the 1st of July, 1856. The Bench said a license that would have that effect would be contrary to the schedule of the Act, and could have no other effect than the one contemplated. Mr Wigley then called Sarah Jasper, who said she was defendant's barmaid. On the 4th of March, two men came in for drinks, and put down the money. The witness said she could not take the money, and her master told them to put the money back again. They left the money on the counter. Another witness gave similar testimony. Sergeant Robinson deposed that no woman told Tobin and himself to put up the money but the defendant did. The Bench considered the offence proved, and fined the defendant £50. He gave notice of appeal.

The hotel was offered for sale in July 1857:

MONDAY, 13th JULY. Preliminary Advertisement. FOR POSITIVE SALE, By Order of the Trustees in the Estate of Mr Polkonhorn. TWO SPLENDID HOTELS, Well known, and doing an excellent business. J. & T. ODDIE are instructed to sell by auction, on the ground, the following hotels, together with fixtures, furniture, &c., on Monday the 13th July, 1857. The Prince Regent Hotel, Caledonian Lead, AND THE Prince Regent Hotel, Plank Road. The sale will commence at the Plank Road, At twelve o'clock, And at the Caledonian Lead, At one o'clock, On Monday, the 13th July. AUCTION SALES. THIS DAY. MR. W. C. SMITH - On the premises, Plank Road, at twelve o'clock, the Prince Regent Hotel.

Offered for private sale, September 1858:

Unprecedented Opportunity. FOR SALE BY PRIVATE CONTRACT, THE PRINCE REGENT HOTEL, SITUATE on the Plank Road, at the foot of the world renowned Prince Regent Gully, now doing a first-rate business which can be proved on inspection of the books. The present proprietor being about to leave Ballarat is the only reason he has for disposing of the above. The house is in first-rate condition, well furnished, good bagatelle table, &c., the whole of which, with the house, will be sold to any one making a reasonable offer. Futher [sic] particulars and inspection of the premises can be obtained on application to R. G. Dalton, at the Hotel.

A fight outside the hotel in January 1860 was partly the cause of a large fire which destroyed businesses and houses on the opposite side of the road:

ANOTHER DISASTROUS FIRE AT BALLARAT.-About 10 minutes past 11 o'clock on Saturday night another disastrous fire was announced by the ominous pealing of the fire-bell, and in the direction of the plank road was visible a large sheet of fire, which shot forth above the surrounding ranges, and brilliantly illuminated the district for miles around. The scene of the fire was supposed by many to be on the Golden Point, or the lower part of the Main-road; but appearances in the present instance were deceptive, as the fire was opposite the Prince Regent Hotel, two miles at least from Ballarat, and broke out in the "Eagle Store," belonging to Raphael Brothers. We had an opportunity this time of seeing the alacrity and promptitude which characterises the Fire brigade, for from the time that the fire-bell gave the first alarm until the engine had laft the engine-house, it was not more than four minutes. The brigade had anticipated that a fire would either signalise the departure of the old year or bring in the new one, and they had both horse and engine ready for the emergency; but on arriving at the scene of the fire it was found that no human efforts could save the premises in flames, as the fire had licked up one tenement after the other with a rapidity quite astonishing, and in 15 minutes four families were left houseless and in some instances penniless. The fire, as we before observed, broke out in the premises of Raphael Brothers, who kept a very extensive establishment, which was divided into four compartments or stores, one part being stocked with drapery, the second with boots and shoes, the third with ironmongery, and the fourth with china and crockery. The fire is supposed to have originated in the kitchen, as follows:- A row had taken place outside the Prince Regent Hotel, and the parties in the store who had been in the kitchen at supper, rushed out to see it, and left the candle lighted after them. On turning round they observed the place on fire. Senior constable Gorman was on duty in the district, and on going into the store he found no person within. An effort was made to extinguish the fire, but it proved abortive, and the flames spread with wonderful rapidity. Several flasks of gunpowder exploded, and shot forth like rockets, scattering far and near everything that came within reach of the concussion. Various parties busily employed themselves in aiding Mr. Nettles, the surveyor, who lived in the adjoining house, to save some of his property, in which the succeeded to a limited extent. Amongst the articles which this gentleman lost by the fire were a valuable gold watch and theodolite. We understand that he was about removing to Buninyong this day with his wife and family, who were in bed at the time that the fire broke out, and had a very narrow escape with their lives. The adjoining store of Mrs. Bourke, who is a widow woman, and kept a greengrocery, was also burned down, as well as that of a poor woman named Williams, whose husband, unfortunately, is undergoing a sentence of imprisonment for horse-stealing. A small right-of-way, about four yards wide, separated Mr. Martin's store from the conflagration, and a number of men got on the roof and kept the gable end of the store and the roof saturated with water; wet blankets were also used, and at one time it appeared doomed to destruction, as the fire licked up the water and burned through some of the blankets, but fortunately it was extinguished. Several water-carts were quickly on the spot, and some difficulty was experienced in the first instance by the brigade and others in obtaining water. Mr. Inspector Nicholas was present and a large body of police. Raphael Brothers were insured in the Melbourne Insurance Office to the extent of £350, but their total loss may be estimated at £1,700. The others were uninsured, and the entire loss may be set down at £2,000. A large number of persons was present during the fire, principally from Ballarat, and the brigade returned to town at half-past 12 o'clock.-Star.

In June 1860, the validity of the publican's license was questioned:

MAGISTERIAL ODDITY. (To the Editor of the Star.) SIR,- In looking over the Star of Wednesday, I observed that Messrs Rodier and Scott granted publicans' licenses to Thos. Jagger, of the Prince Regent Hotel, and James Spargo, of the Halfway House. Now, both the houses alluded to are outside the municipal boundary, and the two gentlemen named are only municipal magistrates, and consequently their jurisdiction does not extend to the houses in question. How then could they assume the power of granting the licenses alluded to? Surely Mr Rodier, who boasts of his legal knowledge, ought to be aware of this fact, especially as he is an old magistrate, and not lead the Chairman of the Council, into a nice "little difficulty," while making unfortunate publicans believe they are duly licensed, when they are not, and may be "stuck up" by the police as sly grog sellers.
Yours truly,
SCRUTATOR.

On Wednesday 1 March 1911, a report of hearings by the Licences Reduction Board appeared in the Ballarat Star:

The hearing examined the number of hotels in the area - The Prince Regent and (David Murphy's) All Nations Hotel locations, buildings and clientèle were described. Evidence of usage of the hotels was given by various parties.

PRINCE REGENT HOTEL. The case of the Prince Regent Hotel, in the licensing district of Ballarat East, was taken. Inspector Ryan appeared to assist the board. Mr M. Lazarus represented the licensee (Helena Evangeline Margareta Fiscalini), and Mr J. B. Pearson the owners. (Ballarat Brewing Company) Senior Constable Wallace deposed that the hotel was in Geelong road Canadian. The building was a brick one, and contained 10 rooms, four of which were bedrooms, two being for the public use. It was 300 yards from, the All Nations Hotel, and 80 chains from the Red Lion. The Halfway House Hotel was also about 80 chains away, on the south side. He considered that one hotel could do the business. To Mr Pearson—The hotel was about one mile from the Eureka Phoenix Prospecting mine, and there was a lot of auriferous land in the locality. To Mr Lazarus—The accommodation, at the Halfway House Hotel was in finitely inferior to that at the Prince Regent. He would he surprised to hear that there were 400 miners working in the locality. There was a good deal of traffic along the road. To Mr Inspector Ryan—If one of the hotels on the road were shut up there would be quite sufficient left for the public convenience. Constable Harnetty gave corroborative evidence. To Mr Lazarus - Neither the Red Lion nor the All Nations was to be compared with the Prince Regent Hotel as a building. The Chairman—Can you say whether the miners prefer their beer near where they work or where they live? Witness—l cannot say. Mr Pearson—Perhaps they like one at each place. (Laughter.) Mr Lazarus - Would you take a glass of beer near where you work?. Witness (hopefully)—l am not a teetotaller. (Loud laughter.) After Messrs Pearson and: Lazarus had addressed the board, and urged, that the hotel was desirable, evidence was called for the licensee. Helena Fiscalini, licensee of the Prince Regent Hotel, said she had a six years’ lease of the place, and there were three years still to run. She paid £325 to go into the hotel. The building was close to the Woah Hawp, New Normanby, and North Woah Hawp mines. There were about 380 men employed in these mines. She obtained this information from the manager of the Normanby. The Prince Regent Hotel was a convenience to the public, and the accommodation required by the public was provided. Clarence Stiffen, manager of the Woah Hawp Canton mine, said, the Prince Regent Hotel was about 100 yards from the mine where 62 men were now employed. William McLeish; manager of the Reward Company, said the mine in which there were 14 men employed, was close to the Prince Regent Hotel, which was a great convenience. Ten out of the 14 men working in the mine were teetotallers. Mr Lazarus—And Judkins has not been lecturing down there. (Laughter.) John Pearce, manager of the Normanby, and North Woah Hawp mines said there were 325 men employed at both mines, including those working the battery. The Prince Regent Hotel was the closest to the mines, and was a convenience. He did not think more than one hotel was required in the locality. To the Chairman—He thought that the Prince Regent hotel was nearest to the bulk of the inhabitants. The board reserved its decision.

In 1915 three men were charged with being in the hotel on a Sunday:

NOT GOOD ENOUGH. David Brogden, Thos. Nicholls, and Joseph Veit were charged with being found on the licensed premises of the Prince Regent Hotel on Sunday, 14th November. Brogden did not appear. The other defendants pleaded not guilty. Const O'Neill stated that Brogden said he came for a drink, but could not get it; Nicholls said he came for dinner, and Veit said he came to see Lina. Const Morey also gave evidence. Thos. Nicholls, miner, stated that he had dinner at the hotel. The P.M.: You were drunk. Where did you get the liquor?- Oh, no. Joseph Veit stated that he went to see if he could get board at the hotel. The defendants were each fined £2.

In May 1920 the publican was charged for allowing gambling:

In the Ballarat Court on Friday, William Brennan, licensee of the Prince Regent Hotel, was charged with having permitted gaming on his licensed premises on May 1. Constable Gedden stated that when he entered the hotel he found a game of euchre in progress, with money on the table. A fine of £2 was imposed.

After closure

The hotel was closed in 1922. It became a retail business, known as the Prince Regent Store.

In 1950 it was purchased by the Ciezki family who lived there until 1997. The building is now used a funeral parlour business.

Community Involvement

Inquests

• June 1874, into the death of Duncan Blair, 23, died after a fight at Madman's Flat from a ruptured liver. Three men charged with manslaughter.

The People

• In February 1857 Augustus Puettlekow applied for a license which was rejected as the hotel was not ready..
  • In June 1857 August Henry Putelkow again applied for a license but failed to appear at the court hearing.
• In June 1858 an application for a license by Robert G. Dalton was postponed for one week as he did not have his sureties present. It was granted one week later.
• In June 1859 the license was granted to Thomas Jaggar.
  • His license was renewed in June 1862.
• In June 1863 license was granted to John O'Keefe.
  • It was renewed in December 1873 and 1874.
  • John O'Keefe died in February 1876.
• In October 1890 the license was transferred from Honora O'Keefe to H. W. Detering.
• In May 1893 the license was transferred from F. W. Dettering to J. Dean.
• In April 1906 the license was transferred from Catherine Dean to Frank Lee Sing.
• Henry Jonathon Gates - before June 1908
• 5 June 1908 - Helena Evangelina Fiscalini
• 22 December 1919 - William J. Brennan
• May 1920 - William Brennan
• 8 December 1920 - Esther Rickard
• Owned by Coghlan & Tulloch as at 31 December 1922.

External Links

• Image of detail of the pediment
• Harrison Funerals - current occupiers of the site