Royal George Hotel

There was also a Royal George Hotel in Sebastopol.'

Royal George Hotel

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History
Town	Ballarat
Street	Cnr. Lydiard and Mair Street
Known dates	1863-1892
Other names	Jackson's Hotel (1860) Federal Hotel (1900s) Railway Hotel (1913) Regent Tavern Jackson's & Co. (2013) The Sporting Globe (2016)

The Royal George Hotel was a hotel in Ballarat, Victoria, 1863-1892. The site has been used for hotels from 1860-2014>

Site

The Royal George Hotel was on the south west corner of Lydiard Street and Mair Street. The site had been the location of Ballarat's original post office, first in a tent, and later in a wooden building, as recreated at Sovereign Hill. The hotel was built in 1860, and has been used as a hotel since then. The original Jackson's Hotel building, erected in 1860, is still in use. A copy of the 1890's verandah, demolished in 1964, was rebuilt in 2013.

Map

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Background

The Royal George Hotel was the name for the hotel from about 1863 until about 1892. The first hotel on the site was Jackson's Hotel, from 1860-1863. After the forced hotel closures in Ballarat in the 1890's, the Royal George was renamed the Federal Hotel. In 1913 it was renamed as the Railway Hotel until the 1970's. For a time it was known as the Regent Tavern. In 2013 it was opened as Jackson's & Co.. In 2016 the hotel became the The Sporting Globe Hotel.

History

In March 1885 the publican was charged with selling mislabeled alcohol:

A number of hotelkeepers and wine and spirit merchants were proceeded against at the City Police Court this morning for breaches of the Trade Marks Statute. Mr M'Kean prosecuted in all the cases, which were brought at the instance of Excise officer Rattray...Josiah Pitcher, of the Royal George Hotel, was summoned for selling inferior whisky in one of Mitchell and Co.'s bottles, and this case was also dismissed on the ground that the liquor was not exposed for sale.

In December 1885, the police originally objected to the renewal of the license:

The renewal of the license by Alfred Hardware, of the Royal George hotel, was granted, conditionally on ‘the repairs now in progress being fully and satisfactorily completed.

In March 1886, the hotel was one of a number which unsuccessfully sought permission to extend trading hours:

Mr Pearson applied on behalf of Alfred Hardware, licensee of the Royal George hotel, Lydiard street, for permission to keep open after half-past 11 o’clock. Permission was applied for on the grounds that the hotel was close to the railway station, and a later hour would accommodate travellers by the late trains, and also that there was a coaching office next door from which a coach left close to 12 o’clock. Travellers by this coach sat in his parlor generally, as there was no fire in the booking office. Decision reserved.

In December 1887 the publican was charged with allowing gambling on the premises:

James C. Meadway, licensee of the Royal George hotel, was charged with having permitted an unlawful game to be played on his premises. This was a continuation of a case that came before the Police Court. Defendant was fined 20s, with 7s 6d costs.

In May 1894 is was reported the new publican was preparing to renovate and rename the hotel:

Mr W. Smyth, the well-known manager of Ballarat, has taken over the business of the Royal George hotel in Lydiard and Mair streets, and will shortly enter into possession. It is proposed to change the name of the house and to effect extensive improvements which will include a roomy and well appointed bar in Mair street. Mr Smyth, who has had experience in a similar business at Allendale, promises to well consider the comfort of patrons.

Community Involvement

Mining

• Ballarat Extension Company, 12 April 1867, ordinary general meeting.
• Rose Hill Coompany, 28 December 1865, quarterly meeting.

Inquests

In May 1874, a man choked to death in the dining room of the Railway hotel:

An inquest was held at the Royal George Hotel, on Monday, on the body of the man, John Ball, who died whilst at dinner in the Railway hotel and dining-rooms, Lydiard street, on 9th May; The medical evidence showed that two large pieces of meat had stuck in the man’s throat, and pressed so against the orifice of the windpipe as to cause suffocation.

The People

• In 1863 the publican was Frank Robertson.
• In July 1864, P.McCann applied for the license but withdrew the application before the court hearing.
• In July 1864 the license was granted to Robert Burrell Dent.
• In September 1872 an application for a transfer by Mary Hawkridge was struck out.
• In December 1873 the license was granted to William Fordham.
  • His license was renewed in December 1875.
• In April 1882 the license was transferred from Robert Thurling to Josiah Pitcher.
• In March 1883 the publican was Josiah Pitcher.
• In September 1884 the publican was John Riordan.
• In September 1885, the publican, Alfred Hardware, was elected to the Ballarat District Licensed Victuallers' Association.
• Alfred Hardware held the license from at least December 1885.
• In September 1887 the license was transferred from Alfred Hardware to James Charles Meadway.
• In December 1889 the license was transferred from Lily Meadway as executrix of James Charles Meadway, to herself.
• In June 1891 the license was transferred from Lorenzo Stefanini to Thomas J. Mullins.
• In November 1892, the licensee, Ellen Mullins, gave evidence into the suicide of Lavinia Harding, who had been a guest at the hotel.
• In May 1894 the publican was William Smyth.

See also

• Jackson's Hotel
• Federal Hotel
• Railway Hotel
• Regent Tavern
• Jackson's & Co.
• The Sporting Globe