Railway Hotel (Creswick)
- For other hotels with the same or similar names, see Railway Hotel
The Railway Hotel was a hotel in Creswick, Victoria, 1871-1916>.
Background
The hotel was opened in 1871 by Mrs. Amelia Roberts, who was still licensee when she died in May 1914.[1]
The hotel became a hostel after World War Two, for Dutch migrants. The hotel has since been demolished.[2]
Site
History
The hotel's license was reviewed by the Creswick Licensing Court in January 1916.[3] The court decided to close the hotel in June 1916.[4]
Community Involvement
In 1882 an incident at the hotel received national attention:
MURDEROUS ASSAULT AT CRESWICK. Great excitement prevailed at Creswick on Monday night through the circulation of a rumour to the effect that a murder had been committed close to the local railway station. Many persons rushed off to the locality mentioned for the purpose of ascertaining whether there was any truth in the exciting report. Upon inquiry, anxious persons found that the grave crime of murder had not been committed, but that a serious case of stabbing had occurred. From what our reporter could learn it appears that about S o'clock last night, two miners named Castles and Gilbert aged respectively about 26 and 10 years, were standing in the bar of the Railway Hotel, of which Mr. John Roberts is the proprietor. During conversation a dispute arose, and Castles got very much out of temper. In the heat of the moment grasped a tumbler from the bar counter and attempted to strike Gilbert with it, when some persons interfered, and took the glass from him. This act had the effect of increasing Castles' wrath, and without the slightest hesitation he drew a knife from his pocket and stabbed Gilbert over the left breast, in the region of the heart. The unfortunate man cried out that he had been stabbed, and as the wound was bleeding profusely, the police were at once communicated with. In a very short space of time Sergeant Moran and Constables Curtain and Kissane arrived upon the scene. As the police considered Gilbert's condition extremely dangerous, they arrested Castles, and subsequently conveyed Gilbert to the residence of Dr. Lindsay. The medical gentleman, upon examination, pronounced the would, which was nearly an inch in depth, to be of a serious character. Last night, at a late hour, Gilbert was still bleeding profusely from the chest. Castles, who is a single man, is stated to have been rather loose in his habits; but Gilbert, on the other hand, is reported to be an extremely steady man. He is married, but has no family.— Ballarat Star[5]
The People
- The publican from 1871-1914 was Mrs. Amelia Roberts.[1]
- In December 1886 the license was granted to J. Roberts.[6]
Legacies
The Creswick Museum holds a watercolour painting of the hotel by William Tibbits, dating to 1870.
See also
Notes
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1914 'OBITUARY.', Creswick Advertiser (Vic. : 1914 - 1918), 22 May, p. 2, viewed 9 August, 2015, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article119518069
- ↑ Railway Hotel and Refreshment Rooms Creswick, Victoria Collections, http://victoriancollections.net.au/items/4fd049502162ef05f82ac628
- ↑ 1916 'CRESWICK LICENSING DISTRICT.', The Ballarat Courier (Vic. : 1869 - 1878; 1914 - 1918), 19 January, p. 1 Edition: DAILY., viewed 9 August, 2015, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article74496982
- ↑ 1916 'LICENSES REDUCTION BOARD.', The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957), 9 June, p. 8, viewed 9 August, 2015, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article2101455
- ↑ 1882 'MURDEROUS ASSAULT AT CRESWICK.', Portland Guardian (Vic. : 1876 - 1953), 17 August, p. 2 Edition: MORNING., viewed 9 August, 2015, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article71583091
- ↑ 1886 'CRESWICK.', The Ballarat Star (Vic. : 1865 - 1924), 22 December, p. 4. , viewed 30 May 2016, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article210840183