Royal Hotel (Doveton Street)

From Hotels of Ballarat
For other hotels with the same or similar names see Royal Hotel.
Royal Hotel
After 1887
History
Town Ballarat
Street Doveton Street
Known dates 1855-1929
Other names aka. Larkin's Hotel
Golf House Hotel

The Royal Hotel was a hotel in Ballarat, 1855-1929.

Site[edit | edit source]

The hotel was in Doveton Street north, Ballarat.[1] In 1875 this part of Doveton Street was described as being Dead Horse Road.[2] It was also referred to as Larkin's Hotel.[3] In February 1929 it was renamed as the Golf House Hotel.

Background[edit | edit source]

History[edit | edit source]

The hotel opened in 1855.[4]

In September 1887 the hotel license changed following the death of the publican:

The executors of the late Edward Larkins, deceased, applied to have his son-in-law, Alfred Smith, appointed as an agent to carry on the business until the expiration of the license.[5]

In May 1908 the Licenses Reduction Board held a hearing into the hotel to determine if it should be closed:

The Licenses Reduction Board sat again to-day, when cases were dealt with as follow:— ROYAL HOTEL, DOVETON-STREET NORTH. The licensee is A. Smith, the owner Mrs. Smith. Inspector Balchin said the hotel was an old wooden building, in fair repair, was well kept and furnished, and well conducted, but was not required. Sergeant Perry corroborated his statement. A number of witnesses gave evidence on behalf of the house and its owner. Decision was reserved.[1]

Licenses Reduction Board. Before Messrs Andrews, Barr, and Cumming. The licenses Reduction Board sat yesterday at the City Hall, and dealt with the following hotels:— ROYAL HOTEL. Royal Hotel, Doveton street, owner. Mrs Charlotte Smith ; licensee, Alfred Smith. Mr Lazarus appeared for both parties. Licensing-Inspector Balchin said the Hotel was in the Bungaree district. It was an old wooden building, in poor repair, well kept and conducted. The assessment was £32. In view of the number of hotels in the locality, he thought the Royal was not required. Sergt. Perry said that in his opinion the hotel was not required. Mr Lazarus said that the hotel stood in a neighborhood of its own. The requirements of the people in the vicinity had to be considered when a decision was being arrived at as to the hotels to be weeded out. He thought that hotels situated in localities where there was no need for them should be dealt with first. The Chairman —But there may be, in an adjoining district, hotels which, it may be thought, can supply the requirements. You see, Ballarat East district comes in near that part, and in the East there are only two hotels above the statutory number. Mr Lazarus said that the hotel had existed for thirty years, and there had been no conviction against it. The population immediately around the house was 936, and there were several businesses in the neighborhood employing numbers of men.
Alfred Smith, licensee, said, that the nearest hotel in the direction of the city was The Millers’ Arms, which was distant over a quarter of a mile away. In the neighborhood were Selkirk’s brickyards, Nicholls’ nursery, Doveton Woollen Mills, and slaughter yards. A large number of meetings were held at his house. It would cause great inconvenience to the public if the house were closed. To Inspector Balchin—-He had held fee license for 21 years. He thought the population of Ballarat North was increasing. To the Chairman—His business had increased during the past two years. He did a good business, the greater part of it being local. Constable Hedger said he had been stationed at Soldiers’ Hill for 10 years. He knew the hotel and the licensee well. It was a well conducted house, and he thought the hotel was very necessary. The population in that locality was growing. Mr Smith had on many occasions been of great service to the police. To Inspector Balchin —He thought the Royal Hotel was more required than the North Britain. The losing of the latter would cause less inconvenience than the former. George Davies said he had lived in the locality for 32 years. The greater part of the business of the neighborhood went to the Royal. A large number of meetings were held at the hotel. It was a great convenience to the locality, and in his opinion should be kept open. Constable Carey, of Ballarat North, gave evidence similar to that of Constable Hedger. There were only four empty houses in the vicinity, and two of those were not habitable. To Inspector Malchin—They could do with one hotel less in that locality, but he would not pick out the Royal as the hotel to be closed. Decision was reserved.[6]

In June 1926 the hotel was again examined by the License Reduction Board:

THE 19th HOLE. Ballarat Hotel Needed. BALLARAT, Thursday. — In a favorable report on the Royal Hotel, Doveton-street north, before the Licensing Court on Thursday, Sergeant Jones said that the hotel was close to the Ballarat North golf links, and was popularly regarded as the "19th hole." The industrial development of the locality warranted the existence of the licence, not so much perhaps at present as in the future. Evidence was given that the Ballarat Brewery Co. would erect a modern brick hotel in place of the present wooden, structure in 1928, if the licence were not deprived. The board reserved decision till Monday.[7]

The hotel name was changed in February 1929:

OLD HOTEL AT BALLARAT CHANGES ITS NAME BALLARAT, Tuesday. — Larkin's Hotel, Doveton street, North Ballarat, is in future to be known as the Golf House Hotel. It is the "19th hole" of the Ballarat North Golf Club. The original building was erected 74 years ago, shortly after the Eureka Stockade, and at that time the road was the main avenue to Daylesford. The licence was held for 71 years by the members of the one family, and the longest occupant was the late Mr Alf Smith, who married the daughter of the first licensee. Mrs Smith held the licence until her death, and her son later. Mr M. Fiscalini is the present licensee.[4]

Community Involvement[edit | edit source]

Sport[edit | edit source]

  • 1915 - There was an annual sports day, held on Christmas Day, on a flat behind the hotel.[8]

Politics[edit | edit source]

  • In September 1894, John W. Rail, a candidate in the Ballarat West election, used the hotel for a political meeting.[9]
  • In September 1894, Colonel Smith, a candidate in the Ballarat West election, used the hotel for a political meeting.[9]
  • In March 1907, Mr. W. Kenna held a meeting at the hotel.[10]
  • Mr. Archibald J. Fisken used the hotel for a political meeting in February 1917. during his unsuccessful attempt for a seat in the Victorian Parliament[3]


The People[edit | edit source]

  • In December 1873 the license was granted to Edward Larkins.[11]
    • His license was renewed in December 1875.[2]
  • In September 1887, the license was transferred from the late Edward Larkins, to his son-in-law, Alfred Smith.[5]
  • In May 1908 the licensee was A. Smith, and the owner, Mrs. Smith.[1]
  • In January 1927 the licensee was Catherine Fiscalini.[12]
  • In February 1929 the publican was M. Fiscalini.[4]


See also[edit | edit source]

References[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1908 'LICENCES REDUCTION BOARD.', The Age (Melbourne, Vic. : 1854 - 1954), 2 May, p. 17. , viewed 13 Mar 2018, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article197339156
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 1875 'POLICE.', The Ballarat Star (Vic. : 1865 - 1924), 22 December, p. 4. , viewed 25 Aug 2022, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article200186441
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 1917 'MEETING AT BALLARAT NORTH.', The Ballarat Star (Vic. : 1865 - 1870; 1914 - 1918), 20 February, p. 2, viewed 13 October, 2014, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article154802601
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 1929 'OLD HOTEL AT BALLARAT CHANGES ITS NAME', The Herald (Melbourne, Vic. : 1861 - 1954), 19 February, p. 21. , viewed 13 Aug 2023, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article244297562
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 1887 'BALLARAT LICENSING COURT.', The Ballarat Star (Vic. : 1865 - 1924), 3 September, p. 2. , viewed 08 Jun 2018, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article207774046
  6. ↑ 1908 'Licenses Reduction Board.', The Ballarat Star (Vic. : 1865 - 1924), 2 May, p. 1. , viewed 10 Dec 2021, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article205463477
  7. ↑ 1926 'THE 19th HOLE.', The Age (Melbourne, Vic. : 1854 - 1954), 25 June, p. 15. , viewed 11 Dec 2021, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article201627321
  8. ↑ 1915 'SOLDIERS' HILL.', The Ballarat Courier (Vic. : 1914 - 1918), 27 December, p. 7 Edition: DAILY., viewed 13 October, 2014, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article75162967
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 1894 'Advertising', The Ballarat Star (Vic. : 1865 - 1924), 11 September, p. 3. , viewed 21 Apr 2017, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article209218744
  10. ↑ 1907 'WARRENHEIP', The Ballarat Star (Vic. : 1865 - 1924), 9 March, p. 10. , viewed 08 Jun 2018, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article210891772
  11. ↑ 1873 'LICENSING BENCH.', The Ballarat Star (Vic. : 1865 - 1924), 24 December, p. 4. , viewed 08 Jun 2018, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article201608890
  12. ↑ 1927 'PROVINCIAL CITIES AND TOWNS.', The Age (Melbourne, Vic. : 1854 - 1954), 20 January, p. 14. , viewed 13 Mar 2018, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article204199521


External Links[edit | edit source]

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