White Swan Hotel (Creswick)

There was also a White Swan Hotel at Springs, near Ballarat.

White Swan Hotel

Picture needed
History
Town	Creswick
Street	Melbourne Road
Known dates	1861-1869

The White Swan Hotel was a hotel in Creswick, Victoria, <1861-1898>.

Site

The hotel was in Melbourne Road, Creswick. In 1898 the location is given as Slaty Creek.

There was also a White Swan Hotel at Springs, closer to Ballarat, but not far from the Melbourne Road.

History

In December 1861 the publican, W. Meyer, was charged with keeping a disorderly house:

A DISORDERLY HOUSE.-At the police office this morning, Mr Meyer, of the White Swan Hotel, Melbourne road, was charged by Sergeant Archibald with allowing prostitutes to assemble in his house. The case was dismissed by the chairman, who at the same time cautioned Mr Meyers that if any complaint was made by the public against the house, the license would be cancelled.

In January 1862 the publican's wife was charged with using abusive language:

ABUSIVE LANGUAGE.-John Moore Davis v - Meyer, wife of the landlord of the White Swan Hotel, Melbourne road, for using filthy and obscene language in a public place.-Mr R. D. Thompson, for plaintiff, and Mr Burton for defendant. This case, from the notoriety of the lady engaged, created a great deal of interest, and the court was crowded. Mr Thompson opened the case by stating that the licensed house, of which the defendant was the landlady, was notorious as the receptacle of loose and profligate characters, and he mentioned this to show the description of person they had to deal with, whose only reason for using the language complained of was that his client had faithfully reported a charge brought by the police some time previously against the house kept by the defendant. On the 15th of December Mr Davis called to ascertain the particulars of a fire that had occurred at the White Swan on the morning of the previous day. On going in, he called for a glass of ale, and tendered a pound note in payment to the daughter, who was in the bar. The defendant brought him the change, and then accused him of putting in a false account respecting them in the Star. She then used to the complainant such vile and filthy language, that none but one reared among the dregs of society, and accustomed to associate with all that is despicable could either use or understand. Mr Davis gave evidence in support of the charge, which, was not denied. Mr Burton, on the part of the defendant, contended that the charge must be dismissed, as the language having been used in the bar of a public house, such could not be considered a public place within the meaning of the act. The bench, however, were of a different opinion; and fined the defendant £2, or three days' imprisonment. A COUNTER CHARGE.-Meyer v. J. M. Davis, for having used on the 16th December insulting language to the complainant, likely to create a breach of the peace. The bench after hearing the evidence in support of the charge, fined the defendant £1, or twenty-four hours imprisonment.

In February 1862 the publican was refused an application for a billiard license:

William Meyer, of the White Swan Hotel, applied for a license for a billiard table. Sergeant Archibald opposed the application on the ground that the house was the resort of improper characters.

In March 1862, Meyer was taken to court by an angry father:

Robert Cockrill v William Meyer, landlord of the White Swan Hotel, Melbourne road. The parties in this case being well known, the Court was crowded. Mr Thompson for the complainant, and Mr Burton for the defendant. Mr Thompson opened the case by saying that the house kept by the defendant was a most disorderly and disreputable one, and frequented by persons of bad character. The complainant haring heard his daughter, a girl of about 16 years of age, had been induced to go to the defendant's house, went there to fetch her home. On asking for her, it was denied that she was there, and when the complainant saw her inside the room in the company of improper characters, and at attempted to go in, he was assaulted and shoved outside. Robert Cockrill deposed as follows : - I live on George's Diggings. I have two young daughters. I heard my daughter had been induced to go to Meyer's since she came out of gaol. I went to Meyer's on the 27th of last month. My daughter was there with several prostitutes and men in the long room. I went inside to fetch her out. Mrs Meyer struck me. Meyer then came and caught me by the throat, throttled me and then pitched me outside. Cross-examined by Mr Burton: -My daughter has been living at Hancock's. When they saw me my daughter was put through a trap-door. They said she had not been there I went into the room and saw the girl. Sergeant Archibald deposed as follows-I am a sergeant of the police. I know Meyer ; he keeps the White Swan public-house. I summoned him some time ago for allowing prostitutes to assemble in his house. I have had complaints made to me by the police about the house. I opposed his application for a billiard license. Mr Burton called, for the defence. James Mann, who deposed-I am a blacksmith on the Melbourne road. I was present for a few minutes in the White Swan on the 27th of last month. I was in the bar. Cockrill asked Mrs Meyer if his daughter was there. I did not then hear what she said. I heard him again ask Mrs Meyer if his daughter was there. She said she was not. Mrs Meyer and Cockrill had a tussle. I do not know which of them went toward the other. They were having a fight Meyer came and caught Cockrill and shoved him out. I did not see the girl at first, but I saw her afterwards. I do not complain of the way I am treated when I go there. Cross examined by Mr Thompson-I generally go there by myself. I did not see the first of the assault. I saw Cockrill stagger. The Chairman at this stage, told Mr Burton that if he had no evidence except as to the character of the defendant, he need not delay the time of the Court, as the Bench were perfectly well acquainted with his character, he had cautioned him on several occasions himself, and he considered him most unfit to hold a license. A man named Dasling for the defence said- I saw Cockrill come in and he said his daughter was there. I saw Mrs Meyer try to put him out Meyer came in. He pulled and the old woman pushed Cockrill out. Cross-examined-I did not hear Cockrill call either Mr or Mrs Meyer any names. Wm. Meyer said-Cockrill came in on the 27th ult. I was not in at the first. When I came in he said his daughter was there. I said if your daughter is in you can go in and see her. I told him not to make any disturbance in the place. I told him to go out. He caught hold of the door, which he broke. I told him I would summon him for the price of the door. Fined £2 and costs.

Later in March 1862 Myer was again in trouble for what was happening at the hotel:

Police v Meyer, landlord of the White Swan Hotel. Joseph Archibald deposed - Between 10 and 11 o'clock on the night of the 15th instant, I visited the public house kept by the defendant. I found in the Assembly Boom and bar of the house from forty to fifty men and lads. There were four prostitutes in the room, one of whom has been convicted as a disorderly character, and the other three are known to the police as prostitutes. One half of the room was cleared as if for dancing, and a man was playing a violin. Cross-examined by Mr M'Dermott - There were four prostitutes among fifty men. They were quiet. I have known the house since May last. I brought a charge against the detendant before, which was dismissed with a caution. One of the neighbors, named Maudsly, has complained about the house to me, and Detective Walker likewise, who lives in the neighborhood. The police have frequently complained to me about the manner in which the house was conducted, shortly after I came. I saw prostitutes in the house dancing. There is no other house they frequent. I saw one in the American Hotel the other night. I have seen them at different public entertainments, but they were quiet, and conducted themselves properly. Mr McDermott, for the defence, made a very eloquent speech, dwelling strongly on the fact that there was an imperative necessity for such houses being kept open in order that the miners should be allowed such relaxation as they needed, and that it was much better that these women of loose character should dance with the idle young men of the town, than men should be seen dancing with one another. He denied that there was any section of the Act which prevented loose women from entering public houses and dancing therein, and appealed to the Bench as men of the world whether it would be right on such a charge to take away the defendant's living, and prevent him from doing the only thing he was in a position to do. He wished to produce a certificate purporting to be signed by various persons as to the character of the house, but the Bench said there was no doubt about that. The chairman said the character of the house was well known to the Bench, and from the evidence in a previous case, there was no doubt the house was conducted in a most improper manner, and that the police were justified in bringing the present charge. They would dismiss the case, but with this caution, that if the house is not conducted properly in future, and any complaint is made against it by the public, the license shall be cancelled.

In June 1862 the police commented on the hotel at the license hearing:

Sergeant Archibald stated that till the last two months the house had been very badly conducted, but now there was an alteration for the better. Granted.

In July 1862, Myer was involved in an altercation with a neighbour:

William Meyer v Mrs O'Shanassy, obscene language in a public place. There was also another charge against her for breaking a window. William Meyer, landlord of the White Swan Hotel, deposed I know the prisoner. She has been living next to me for the last four weeks. On but Thursday evening she came into my house and asked for a sheet of paper, which I gave, and she went away, but returned and asked for an envelope. When she came in again my wife said " do you want anything." She said " no, not from you," and used most disgusting language. I then pushed her out, and some men got her away. She came back again and called me all sorts of names. (The witness gave evidence as to the language used.) She then picked up some stones and threw them at the house, and one of them broke a window which has cost me 2s 6d to repair. I then sent for the police. Cross-examined by the defendant- I did not throw you out of the House on your back, nor did my wife call you any names. The senior constable said that the defendant had established such a character at Browns that she was obliged to leave. The bench, in consideration of the baby in her arms, sentenced the defendant to 24 hours' imprisonment.

In August 1862 Myer was in court in a dispute over wages:

Cochrane v William Meyer, of the White Swan Hotel, £36 wages due ; Mr Thompson for complainant, Mr Burton for defendant. Mr Burton made a technical objection that a pianist was not a servant within the meaning of the Master and Servant's Act. The bench had no jurisdiction and Mr Thompson withdrew the case.

In November 1869, a man was charged with sexually assaulting the daughter of the publican, Thomas Honnor:

A young man named John Aees was arrested by Constable Bourke, at Creswick, on 8th November, upon a charge of committing an indecent assault upon Anne Honnor, a girl eleven years of age, the daughter of Mr Thomas Honnor, of the White Swan hotel, Melbourne road. It is stated that about eleven o'clock on Saturday night last one of the female servants hearing screams from the children's bed-room, which was quite dark, ran there immediately, when Anne told her that there was a man in the room under the bed; further, that he had got into the bed and put his hands under her night-dress and on her person, and on her screaming out he had put his hands round her neck to stop her cries. The servant girl put her hands under the bed and came in contact with a man's head. She seized it by the hair, and thereby dragged out the man and took him to the bar, where he was recognised as a young fellow who had been drinking there that evening. Mr Honnor (the father) upon hearing of the circumstances rushed into the place and knocked the man down, and he on getting up made his escape. Honnor gave information to the police next morning, and search was made for Aees, but without success. It appears, however, that about seven o'clock a.m. on Monday, 8th November, Aees went to the White Swan hotel to procure his clothes which he had left behind on the Saturday night, and that Honnor sent at once for the police and had him arrested. He was brought before Mr Lees, J.P., on 9th November, and remanded till the following day.

In January 1898 a 15 year old boy was killed in a shooting accident while hunting rabbits near the hotel:

SHOCKING GUN ACCIDENT. A BOY'S FACE BLOWN OFF. BALLARAT, Wednesday. A fatal gun accident occurred to-day at Slaty Creek, in the Dean district, the victim being a boy named William Room, aged 15. The deceased, with two companions named Ernest and Frank Allan, was on a shooting excursion in the bush near the White Swan Hotel; and while on his knees looking into a rabbit burrow, his gun, the muzzle of which was held close to his head, went off, the full charge entering his neck and blowing away the whole of one side of the face. The unfortunate lad resided with his parents at Little Bendigo. Mounted Constable Shaw proceeded to Slaty Creek this evening to remove, the body to the morgue, at Ballarat pending an inquest.

Community Involvement

In October 1864, Mr. Cooper used the hotel for a meeting in support of his standing for the seat of Creswick.

The People

• From at least June 1861 to June 1862 the publican was William Meyer.
• In September 1864 the license was transferred from Thomas Burkett to Green Bygraves.
  • In September 1864 the publican, Green Bygraves, was given a night license.
• In August 1866 the license was transferred from Green Bygraves to Thomas Burkett.
• In September 1869 the license was transferred from Ann Burkett to Thomas Honnor.
• In November 1869 the publican was Thomas Honnor.