Sportsmans' Arms (Alfredton)

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For other hotels with the same or similar names, see Sportsmans' Arms.
Sportsmans' Arms
Picture needed
History
Town Ballarat
Closed 1 June 1908
Known dates 1885-1908

The Sportsmans' Arms was a hotel in Ballarat, Victoria, <1885-1908.

Site[edit | edit source]

The hotel was in Ballarat, in Park Street, near the sale yards in Alfredton.[1][2]

Background[edit | edit source]

History[edit | edit source]

In April 1885 there was an auction of the hotel furniture:

The sale of Mr Mansfield’s furniture, &c., takes place to-day at 12 o’clock, it having been removed from the Sportsman’s Arms hotel, Cattle Yards, to Messrs R. Tunbridge and Co’s., auction rooms, Lydiard street. The collection embraces a large quantity of bedsteads, tables, &c., and will be sold without reserve.[3]

In May 1908 the hotel was included on a list of 47 hotels to be delicensed by the License Reduction Board.[4]

The hotel's license was voluntarily surrendered in 1908:

SPORTSMAN’S ARMS HOTEL. In this case Mr D. Clarke, who appeared for the owner and licensee, John M'Clelland, said that the latter desired to surrender the license. Licensing-inspector Balchin said that the Sportsman's Arms Hotel was situated in the Ballarat West district. The statutory number of hotels for this district was 36, and the existing number 83. The hotel was assessed at £42 a year. It was an old wooden building, close to another hotel, and was situated near the cattle yards, Alfredton. It was kept clean and well conducted. In his opinion it was not required, as the two other houses in the vicinity — the Market and Cattleyards Hotels — were enough for the business doing. Mr Clarke said it was desired to surrender the license on the 1st June. Mr Andrews— You have the right to carry on till the end of the year if you like. Mr Clark—Then he has to run the risk of convictions against the house during that period, and stand a chance of losing his compensation. Mr Clarke asked when the matter of compensation would be dealt with. Mr Andrews said that it had been intended to go into that in the latter half of the year, but perhaps arrangements could, be made. Inspector Balchin said that the Market and the Cattleyards would benefit most by the closing of the Morning Star Hotel. The surrender was accepted.[2]
Mr D. Clarke, who appeared for Mr M'Clellan, said that his client asked for compensation as owner only. Frank Besemeres, auctioneer and valuator, said that the Sportsman’s Arms was a single-storeyed wooden building in Park street. There were, nine rooms, together with six small detached rooms. The premises were partly lath and plaster. As a hotel, he considered it would bring £1 per week rent net, and the capital value £650. Delicensed the premises would bring in at the outside 7s per week, and would be worth £150. W. A. Drew considered the rental of the house licensed would be about £65 per year. The ingoing for a seven years’ lease would be worth from £150 to £200. The Market hotel would benefit chiefly by the closing of the Sportsman’s Arms, say, to the extent of two thirds, the other third would go to Brazenor’s. George Lovitt also gave evidence.[1]

Community Involvement[edit | edit source]

  • In July 1886, a candidate for the South Ward, David Cooke, held a meeting at the hotel.[5]


The People[edit | edit source]

  • In April 1885 the publican was Mr. Mansfield.[6]
  • In May 1908 the last publican and owner was John McClelland.[2]


See also[edit | edit source]

References[edit | edit source]

  1. 1.0 1.1 1908 'SPORTSMAN’S ARMS HOTEL.', The Ballarat Star (Vic. : 1865 - 1924), 16 May, p. 3. , viewed 12 Mar 2018, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article205465025
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 1908 'SPORTSMAN’S ARMS HOTEL.', The Ballarat Star (Vic. : 1865 - 1924), 23 April, p. 4. , viewed 11 Jun 2017, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article205462631
  3. 1885 'Advertising', The Ballarat Star (Vic. : 1865 - 1924), 15 April, p. 3. , viewed 09 Apr 2021, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article207635757
  4. 1908 'BALLARAT HOTELS.', The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957), 19 May, p. 3. , viewed 12 May 2016, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article10670968
  5. 1886 'Advertising', The Ballarat Star (Vic. : 1865 - 1924), 29 July, p. 3. , viewed 26 Mar 2018, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article204435239
  6. Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named sale85


External Links[edit | edit source]