“Although the hotel was licensed in 1876, the simple unadorned facade is of an earlier period, possibly in the 1850s.” (Hotels in Fitzroy up to 1906, Nicola A Piccolo, 1971).
Licensing records show the North Fitzroy Star was opened in 1878 by Samuel Coulter as the A1 Coulter’s Hotel, later the Morning Star Hotel and later again Lord Jim’s and is now the Star. And while it might of survived into the 70s and beyond, in 2015, locals rallied to protect the 137 year old pub from development plans for 5 townhouses and a wine bar. Most recently it was run by restauranteur Patricia O’Donnell, sister of the late Mietta O’Donnell and prided itself as being a comfortable place for meetings and book launches (no pokies or TAB). But when she failed to find another to take over the lease, owner Leon Lachal had the plans drawn up (The Age, 11 Dec 2015).
The challenge from 2015 however, was unsuccessful and the council approved the modification to create a series of four townhouses and a wine bar in April 2016 (Herald Sun, 18 April 2016).
I was very happy to walk past the Morning Star Hotel yesterday (15 Nov 2021) and see that there has been a lot of progress and that the building is now largely completed. I think this has been sensitively converted keeping the roof line and fireplaces and external features. The extension works with the building and not against it.
Wine bar opening very soon One Trick Pony it will be a great addition to the local community
I have photos of the Morning Star hotel taken in the 1960’s. I was a teenager when my parents owned the hotel.
Hi Rachel, I have the photos I wanted to send you, would you mind giving me your email address so I can forward the photos, thank you!