Wellington Hotel (Clunes)

The Wellington Hotel was a hotel in Clunes, Victoria, <1860-1861>.

Wellington Hotel

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History
Town	Clunes
Known dates	1860-1861

Site

The Wellington Hotel was in Clunes.

History

In March 1861 there was an inquest into the death of George Way, who had been drinking at the hotel and fell down a mine shaft after leaving to go home:

An inquiry was held at Clunes on Wednesday touching the death of George Way, aged 47, miner, a native of Devonshire, before W. B. Lees, Esq., coroner, at the Wellington Hotel. The evidence disclosed that the deceased had been drinking with some of his mates on Saturday night last. A. Jackson deposed that he had known deceased for 4 years, that they left the Port Phillip Hotel about 11 o'clock. Witness went home, and deceased and his mate Cotterell went on the way to North Clunes. Cotterell proved that they went to the Wellington Hotel after parting with Jackson, and had some drink together with George Collins and Humble, but how he left the Wellington Hotel he could not tell. About sunrise on Sunday morning he found himself lying on a pile of dirt near to the old shaft of the All Nations Company. He missed his mate, and supposing that he had gone home, went to his tent, but not hearing anything of him on Sunday, on the Monday he made a search for him. Tried the holes about by throwing down clay to sound the bottom, the hole near which he had lain was divided by a partition. One part sounded differently to the other, a rope was procured and Tom Fell went down and saw the body of the unfortunate man. He (witness) gave information to the police. Mr Sergeant Bolger went down the shaft, which is above 100 feet deep, and sent the body up. The deceased appeared to have fallen head foremost as his head was buried in mud. There could have been no foul play, as no quarrel had taken place The head of deceased was severely cut by coming into contact with the fallen timber of the shaft, which had been partially drawn. A sum of £1 16s was found on deceased's person. Dr Warren had made a post mortem examination and gave details of the state of the organs of deceased. The wound on the head was sufficient to cause death. Verdict-" That the deceased, George Way, was found down a hole on the morning of the 18th March, 1861, and the jury are of opinion that deceased died from injuries received from the fall, and that he fell down the hole on the morning of the 17th March, while in a state of intoxication.

In April 1861 the publican, Richard Wellington, was fined for being open after hours:

Richard Wellington was summoned by the police for keeping his licensed house open at one o'clock on Sunday morning last. Defendant pleaded that his house was not open at the time, and that he was not selling liquor. Sergeant Bolger stated that at the time mentioned he was on duty with constable Boyle and saw several men outside defendant's hotel drunk. He watched the door some time and saw several men go in and out. Entered the house without knocking. There were several meu in the place drinking. Defendant said he had not served drinks for half-an-hour. Constable Boyle corroborated the evidence of the former witness, adding that two of the men were in an attitude of fighting. Defendant explained that a party of miners had been settling up their contract work that day. That it was very late before they settled. He had supplied them with horses, whim, and engaged boys to drive, &c, and could not close at the usual hour. He was sorry to be before the Bench. Mr Lavers, secretary for a mining company, stated that the party's accounts were not settled till half-past 12 o'clock. The Bench reprimanded Mr Wellington and fined him £2, stating that the case would be kept on record against him, and that if anything of the kind occurred again his license would be cancelled.

The police objected to the license renewal in June 1861:

Richard Wellington, Wellington Hotel. Sergeant Bolger objected, as the applicant had not conducted his business in a proper manner. A man had lost his life through getting drunk in his house, and since then applicant had been fined. Applicant said that the man did not get drunk in his house, and that a sober man might fall down a hole of a dark as soon as one drunk. The Bench very particularly cautioned the applicant, and granted the license.

The People

• In 1860 the publican was Richard Wellington.
  • His license was renewed in June 1861.