Railway Station Hotel (Buninyong)

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

Railway Station Hotel

Picture needed
History
Town	Buninyong
Closed	1919
Known dates	1863-1918
Other names	aka. Webb's Hotel

The Railway Station Hotel was a hotel in Buninyong, Victoria, <1863-1918>.

Site

The Railway Station Hotel was in Buninyong.

Background

Also known as Webb's Hotel, (1871).

History

In March 1903, the hotel was completely destroyed by fire:

EXTENSIVE FIRE AT BUNINYONG. RAILWAY STATION HOTEL DESTROYED. BUNINYONG, Friday. At a quarter past three this morning the ringing of the fire bell woke the Township, to sea the Railway Station Hotel in flames. The Fire Brigade was soon on the spot, but could render no assistance as the building, was a very old wooden structure. It was one of the oldest land marks of the “Ancient Village," having been occupied as an hotel for 40 years. The licensee, Mr. Chas. Burns, some 12 months ago purchased, the good-will from Mr. Thos. Caffrey, and had had the hosterly, recently done up for Christmas. Mr. Burn’s loss is severe, as trade during the winter has been slack, and he was looking forward to better times during the holidays and summer. The furniture, stock, and piano were insured for £275 in the Yorkshire, Mr. Drew, being the agent. The building was insured in the Victoria for £400, Mr Jas. A. Jordan being the local agent. The origin, of the fire is a mystery. Mr Burns was asleep when it broke out, and the first, he knew of the outbreak was when he saw flames rushing out of the kitchen. Nothing was saved, the hotel and its contents being totally consumed.

On 22 March 1915, the hotel was included on a list of hotels to be deprived of their licenses. This list was complied by the Licenses Reduction Board in Melbourne. Licensing district hearings for hotels on this list were to be held at the Ballarat Supreme Court on 11 May.

In February 1917 the hotel was again considered for closure:

RAILWAY HOTEL BUNINYONG. The first case dealt with was that of the Railway hotel Buninyong, of which Pauline Auguste Heinz is the owner and Jack Blum the licensee. The licensing inspector of the district (Mr A. Nicholson) had charge of the proceedings. Mr Pearson appeared for the owner and licensee. Const Olney said there were three hotels there. In his opinion two were sufficient, and the Railway hotel should be delicensed because the other two had superior accommodation and more room.To Mr Pearson: The district has gone down through families leaving. They were principally miners. No mines had been closed down of late, but a dredge which employed a few men had relinquished work. The hotel was convenient for people going to and from the railway station. There was a fair road traffic past the house. To Mr Lock: In his opinion one hotel at Lal Lal and Elaine was ample. He would prefer to see three retained at Buninyong than two at either of the other places mentioned. Mr Pearson pointed out Buninyong was not a place which commanded the patronage of travellers owing to its close proximity to Ballarat. Consequently the family hotel argument did not apply. Mr Barr concurred, and said they had no desire to impose heavy outlay on owners or licensees, All they wanted at such places was that what accommodation there was should be good. In large centres it was different, and although the Board had in some instances overlooked the fact that only a fair-trade was done, those people had been given to understand that in future the absence of accommodation, etc., might tell against them. Jack Blum, licensee of the hotel, stated there had been no material alteration in the position of his hotel since 1915, except that he had gained slightly from the closing of a Clarendon hotel. Jas. A. Jordan, who was town clerk at Buninyong for 20 years, stated it was an old-established hotel, and one which should be allowed to remain for public convenience. The population of Buninyong had not appreciably decreased, and he thought three hotels were necessary for public requirements and convenience. To Mr Lock : Buninyong was more deserving of three hotels than Lal Lal or Elaine was of three. To Mr Barr: During the holiday season from 12,000 to 15,000 visitors came to Buninyong. The Board reserved it decision.

In September 1919 the Licenses Reduction Board paid the licensee and owner, F. Howard, £425 compensation for the closure of the hotel.

Community Involvement

• August 1871, J. P. Howard, candidate for Buninyongshire north riding, addressed ratepayers.

The People

• In September 1895 the license was transferred from R. Griffith to E. J. Whiteley.
• In May 1893 the license was transferred from M. Haimann to Richard Grenfell. Grenfell had moved from the Queen's Head Hotel in Ballarat.
• In September 1893 the license was transferred from Richard Grenfell to John Redmond.
• In November 1898 the license was transferred from Richard Grenfell to Ernest Young.
• In May 1901 the license was transferred from Ernest Young to Thomas Caffrey.
• In c.1902 the hotel was transferred from Thomas Caffrey to Charles Burns.
• In February 1917 the publican was Jack Blum.
• In February 1917 the owner was Pauline Auguste Heinz.
• In September 1918 the license was transferred from Rose Blum to Eliza Pratt.