Red Lion Hotel (Sulky)

For other Red Lion Hotels, see Red Lion Hotel.

The Red Lion Hotel was a hotel in Sulky Gully, <1861-1901>.

Site

The Red Lion Hotel was in Sulky Gully, about 800 meters from the railway station, and opposite the Waterloo Hotel.

History

In November 1901 a cyclone struck the Ballarat district, and caused substantial damage to the hotel:

Redman’s hotel was almost demolished by the severity of the storm. The roof and sides were blown off, and some of the sheets of iron from the roof were to be seen stuck in the trees a distance of nearly half a mile away.

Mr Redman’s horse and dray were standing in his yard whilst the wood it contained was being unloaded. The shaft of the dray penetrated the animal and killed it. Mr Redman possessed several head of poultry, and these were killed by the severity of the storm. The roof from off the Sulky Gully station was deposited at the side of Mr Redman’s hotel, nearly half a mile distant. A large iron post, forming portion of the verandah of one of the hotels, was found nearly a mile off, bent up in all directions. Bricks from chimneys that were an easy prey to the raging storm were carried fully a mile away.

Mr Redman’s chest of drawers was like the roof, carried from the building with all its contents. Up to a late hour last night it had not been recovered. A coat belonging to the licensee, was picked up half a mile from the hotel. Mr Redman considers he had a most miraculous escape, chiefly through taking shelter under the bagatelle table in the hotel.

The People

• From at least 1861 to October 1889 the publican was George Redman.

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