“This corner hotel was constructed in 1916 and replaced an earlier hotel, likely to be the original hotel on this side of 1866. This hotel like many others in the Melbourne suburbs, replaced a hotel that was considered of inadequate standard by the Licensing Reduction Board. The Licensing Reduction Act of 1906-07 established high standards, many of which were met by the existing hotel. A permit was issued on the 30th October, 1916, with W. Cooper listed as the builder. It is possible that Smith and Ogg who were the Brewery architects at that time, designed this hotel, but there is no such record. At this time the Brewery had one staff architect, Weaver, who also may have been responsible for this building. In 1925, Smith, Ogg and Serpell untook alterations to the hotel (nature of works uncertain) and so it appears likely that the firm designed the hotel 9 years earlier.” (South Fitzroy Conservation Study, 1979, p.142)
This photo above is amazing and was sent to the Fitzroy History Society in 2023. It is the only photo I know of prior to the demolition in 1916. It also shows houses to the left of the building which no longer exist.
Publicans
The first none Publican may have been J Clark in 1858. However the location is not clear and there is no mention following this until 1866. This date aligns to the date on the building in the photo above. Any prior building may have been wooden.
The publicans are then:
- 1866 – John Cook
- 1867 – Henry Groom 1867
- 1869 – Joseph M Forde (Night licence granted 26 July 1869)
- 10 Mar 1870 – Joseph Linday
- 1870 – M Hart (Funeral of Michael Hart from his late residence Napier Hotel – 23 Oct 1870).
- 27 Mar 1871 – Grace Redden (applied for the licence on 14 Mar 1871) – 5 rooms.
- 16 Nov 1871 – Hannah L Winter (1871 Rate Book – 7 rooms) (Licence refers to Hannah Winter House known as Napier Hotel).
- 1873 – John L Groom
- 4 Jun 1874 – James Hayes
- 1874 – Robert Todd
- 1875 – William Macey
- 1876 – John Powers (was formerly of Camp Hotel Ararat)
- 1877 – William Green (was here to 1887?)
- 1888 – T E Mead (1891 Rate Book – Brick Building – 8 rooms) (some conjecture with the dates, other records have Mead commencing in 1889 and finishing in 1902)
- 18 Aug 1902 – Mrs Kate E Maher (another record has her commencing in 1901 (Piccolo))
- 17 Feb 1903 – Catherine Anderson
- 4 May 1903 – C N Potton (or Pohow) – there may also have been a Kate Ackhurst as publican for a short period in 1903 (Piccolo)
- 7 Mar 1904 – Thomas Thornton Cooper
- 20 Jun 1904 – Malvina Wilson
- 31 Oct 1904 – Miss Margaret Ryan
- 20 July 1908 – James W Eddington
- 6 Nov 1911 – Robert Hussey
- 6 Jan 1913 – Mrs Mary Ann Dobson
- 1914 – Isabella Lees August
- 19 Jul 1915 – Vincent Cannon
- 1916 – Old hotel demolished and new hotel built
- 4 Aug 1919 – Alice H Heming
- 27 Apr 1920 – Lodd
- 13 Jun 1921 – Charles Jones
- 19 Sep 1921 – A W Browne
- 23 Mar 1926 – Susan Kennelly
- 10 Oct 1926 – Philip Rogers
- 13 Sep 1927 – Minnie Golosky
- 31 Jul 1928 – Mrs Lily Hennary
- Unknown between 1928 -1970
- William Henry Corcoran & Leila Olive Corcoran (unknown when they took over, just that they passed it to John & June Dempster)
- 24 Dec 1970 – John Robert Dempster and June Rose Dempster
- Aug 1980 – Berden Pty Ltd – Denis Michael Bourke (Licensee)
Architecture of the Hotel
“The exterior of the hotel is intact, and the composition is dominated by a corner tower, a standard feature of hotels built at this time. However, the tower, a standard feature of hotels built at this time. However, the tower on the Napier is unusual, with a similar, but inferior, tower appearing on the Royal Oak Hotel in Bridge Road, Richmond. The square nature of the tower differs completely from other corner towers and results from continuing the flat plan of the door up into the tower. The timber brackets supporting the roof appear to be a Queen Anne derivative. An unusual rose-bush decoration decorates the corner panel. The origin of this corner tower and rose-bush decoration is unknown, but appears so distinctive that one person may have been responsible for its creation. It is possible that Robert Haddon who worked for Smith and Ogg in 1912 may have influenced this work but this has not been substantiated.” (South Fitzroy Conservation Study, 1979, p.142)
“The composition is symmetrically placed around the corner entrance. The side entrances are echoed by a projecting Dutch gable motif which extends beyond the parapet. A foliated crest with the initials ‘NH’ is contained within a recessed arch below the gable end. An unusual wide projecting cornice treatment supported on timber eaves brackets unify the composition at eaves height. This is repeated by horizontal bands at first floor level (with raised name), and at ground level with a solid bank of green tiles. Unlike many hotels, these tiles form a vital part of the hotel design and compliment the very fine predominantly green lead lighting to the ground floor windows. Fine wrought iron lamp brackets overhang each entrance door and window balconettes decorate the two side entrances. The interior has been altered but pressed metal dadoes survive in the hall and billiard room, the corner internal entrance joinery is intact and the bar appears to be original. Otherwise on the ground floor there is nothing of note. The unusual composition and features of this hotel, combined with the intact, well preserved and face brick façade, combine to make this hotel of unique architectural significance. The enigma surrounding the architect responsible or the source of inspiration does not lessen its importance.” (South Fitzroy Conservation Study, 1979, p.142)
Nicola, doesn’t see the hotel in quite the same way: “Another of the basically Edwardian hotel buildings on which Art Nouveau decorative motifs were crudely carved on the façade with no real feeling for the spirit of that movement. Missing was the overall turbulent, sweeping effect so characteristic of European Art Nouveau; in its place was a series of organic decorations – a rose bush on the square tower (a straight line was abhorred by the disciples of Art Nouveau!); a bunch of leaves elsewhere – a method of approach which just reinforced the already staccato appearance of this Edwardian-style-building” (Hotels in Fitzroy up to 1906, Nicola A Piccolo, 1971)
