Greenhills Tavern

Statement of Significance

Greenhills Inn is a representative example of Federation Filigree architecture in a country town application and makes a considerable contribution the Greenhills townscape, as a landmark in the Greenhills townsite and informs of the prosperity of the advent of the railway and development of the private town. Strategically located opposite the railway station, the Railway Hotel was the place of hospitality and socialising for traveller and community, in recent decades it has also been the venue for many weddings and celebrations, creating a sense of place valued by many. It is historically significant in the development of Greenhills.

Physical Description

The two storey hotel building has verandas at both floor levels that wrap the street frontage and along the north side with a truncated corner, as if there was a street along the north side. (maybe there was?) The hipped roof is facetted about the truncated corner. The first floor veranda has a separate roof supported by timber posts. The balustrades are decorative (typical of the architectural style). There is a protruding singe storey gable frontage on the north side that terminates the verandas.
Tall face brick corbelled chimneys dominate the roof line.

History

The private town of Greenhills developed on McMullen’s farm after they successfully lobbied for the railway line east of York to pass through their property. The advent of the railway in 1898 shifted the focus from the original townsite where the church, cemetery, school and Agricultural Hall had been established
The Greenhills Road Board was formed in 1893 with Henry Penny chairman- the area covered from east of York to the South Australian border. The goldrushes meant travellers heading east through the district after getting off the train in York. The hall and school were established in the mid 1890s near Penny’s farm and the church. The Club Hotel was located further away as penny objected to being near his property. McMullens were business people who had established in the area. With the prospect of the railway coming through, they lobbied for it to come through their farm rather than further east along the road near Penny’s farm. On 1 September 1898, the railway came to Greenhills and the private townsite developed around the railways siding (that was previously McMullens property). Greenhills was the railhead until 1908. The town continued to develop around the railway with the Railway Hotel directly opposite the railway station, as is tradition. Next to the Railway Hotel was McMullen’s Hall (1912), and the school and school house (1916) and bakery on the west side of the railway line. A railway station was built, 5 railway houses, a bank and residence, and two garages. The settlement near the church and the Club Hotel declined with the focus in the town. In 1924, the York o-op had a store in Greenhills and in 1937 the CBH bins were constructed at the railway site.
The Railway Hotel was later renamed Greenhills Hotel/ Tavern/Inn.

Integrity/Authenticity

Moderate/Good

Condition

Fair/good

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

Publish place record online (inHerit):

Last Update

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