State Hotel (fmr)

Statement of Significance

The place, is a fine example of the Federation Filigree style, combining solid classical details with delicate decorative timber elements, typical of the traditional Australian pub at the turn-of-the-century. With its wrap around verandah, the place is the dominant focal point in the streetscape and is one of a few brick buildings in Gwalia and the most imposing.
The place is an important component of a nationally significant townsite. The place was the State Government's first venture into the construction and management of hotels, and as such represents a particular phase in State Government policy.
The place contributes to the community's sense of place, being the most substantial and imposing building in Gwalia, a town that is becoming increasingly more popular as a tourist destination, serving as a demonstration of the layout and function of a gold mining township.
The place demonstrates rare aspects of the cultural heritage significance at a national level because the historical importance of the mine, the social distinctiveness of die community, and the diversity of physical evidence within a small area, are a combination not equalled in Australia.

Physical Description

The building is a two-storey building in Federation Filigree style located at the building line on the corner of Kane and Station Streets.
The building is constructed of brick laid in stretcher bond, with a corrugated iron clad roof concealed behind a heavily moulded parapet.

History

The former State Hotel is a two-storey brick and iron building, with a two-storey verandah, constructed in 1903 by the State Government to provide a controlled hotel facility for the miners of Gwalia.1 The distance between Gwalia and Leonora (2km) led, in many cases, to the provision of separate facilities for each settlement. In 1903, this, in part, led the State Government to take the unusual step of building the State Hotel to provide Gwalia with a licensed premises, and to lessen the sly-grog trade. "... as a last resource, the Government decided to initiate the experiment of a State-owner hotel."2 It was the Government's first involvement in such a venture.
Mr W.E. Robertson, an architect in practice in Perth, was asked to prepare plans, which were accepted. The building was more elaborate and expensive than the Government had envisaged, 'but the licensing bench insisted that if the Government wished to obtain a license it was but fair that the hotel they proposed to erect should equal in every way the plans submitted by other applicants".3
The hotel was opened to the public on 3 June 1903, the cost of construction, including furnishings, amounting to £5,429/14/9.4 The hotel was described at the time of opening as follows:
The hotel is two-storeyed and is built of brick, with a 10ft balcony running around the front and eastern sides. At the rear there is a private balcony for the use of the boarders. On the ground floor are nine rooms. The opens towards the railway station. Its counter is • of polished jarrah, and is pilastered, and panelled artistically. The saloon bar has been created similarly. The Government has evidently given precedence to West Australian woods, the staircase in the main hall being an elaborate piece of work of polished jarrah, and the contractors have in the whole of these fittings shown what expert tradesmen can do with colonial woods. ^
A description of the layout of the hotel is provided in another newspaper.
... to contain a billiard-room 25ft x 20ft, bar-room 25ft. x 18ft. saloon bar which, however, was subsequently deemed superfluous, and was used as a smoking-room for guests and as an office, dining room 25ft x 18ft., pantry, store-room, kitchen, and scullery on the
ground floor; while on the upper storey provision was made for a drawing-room, three single and three double bedrooms with separate quarters for servants over the dining-room, as well as a bathroom.
The yard was enclosed with galvanised iron, within which were sited a stable and out-offices. Contractors for the job were Messrs. Gamel and Trim (sic), and contract price being £4,800.7 The painter in charge was Mr James Blight. Upon opening, the hotel was under the management of Mr Robins, who, with his wife, selected the furnishings.
Owned by the State Government, the hotel operated under strict rales and regulations: opening hours were strictly adhered to; alcohol quality was monitored so as to retain a high standard; prices were regulated; and, drunken behaviour were not tolerated. Despite Hie popularity of the State Hotel, the conditions were not always viewed as acceptable by certain patrons.
In August 1911, an addition to the Station Street elevation, together with new latrines was completed.8 Although designed for use as a library and reading room, it was thought the new room could be better utilised as a public bar and billiard room, with the small parlour converted to a library.
In the final days of the 1913 Parliamentary session Premier Scaddan introduced a Government Trading Concerns Bill, which empowered the Government to obtain money to start commercial enterprises of its own. As well as hotels the State Government controlled a state shipping service, saw mills, dairy, ferries, abattoir etc. Other Government financed and operated hotels were established in Kwolyin (1913), Bruce Rock (1913), Wongan Hills (1914), Corrigin(1915) and Bolgart(1915).9
In March 1919, the State Hotel was subject to a 'beer strike' when a group of miners agreed to boycott the hotel until their demands for improved conditions were met.10
In June 1959, Gwalia residents signed a petition against the State's proposed sale of the State Hotel. In the early 1960s, the Government's interest in hotels waned and a number of communities looked to taking over the hotels themselves. In Gwalia, after protracted negotiations, the Gwalia community Co. Ltd bought/leased the hotel in 1960 for £18,000.11 The State Hotel continued to be used as a hotel up until the mid-1960s.
After the mine's closure inl963, Gwalia was nearly deserted, although a number of its building remained. The State Hotel was closed on 17 January 1964, in a town that by then had only 40 residents. The building is believed to have been unoccupied until the early 1980s, the resurgence of mining at 'Sons of Gwalia' in the 1980s led to the restoration and conversion of the former State Hotel by lessee Western Mining Corporation for its use as an administration office by Sons of Gwalia N.L. The first floor provides accommodation. On the ground floor the bar counter has been removed to accommodate modern office requirements. The bar fittings and fixtures were removed by vandals during the time the building was unoccupied.

Integrity/Authenticity

INTEGRITY: High
AUTHENTICITY: High

Condition

Good

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

Publish place record online (inHerit):

Last Update

Disclaimer

This information is provided voluntarily as a public service. The information provided is made available in good faith and is derived from sources believed to be reliable and accurate. However, the information is provided solely on the basis that readers will be responsible for making their own assessment of the matters discussed herein and are advised to verify all relevant representations, statements and information.