Willaston Hotel
| Place type: | Building |
|---|---|
| Address: | 33 Main North Road |
| Town or Locality: | Willaston |
The first hotel built was just across the bridge on the left hand side, and is now a private dwelling. Thomas Greaves built the Willaston Hotel in 1849 and also established a camping ground for mule teams from the Burra Mines, alongside. Travellers in drays, carts and wagons stopped here for a rest, to stable their animals and to collect further provisions.
The explorer John McKinlay, charged with instructions from the Government to provide relief for the missing Burke and Wills expedition, left from the Willaston Hotel in August 1861.
It was reported that it was a ‘convivial send off’ by the new owner of the hotel, Mr R.T. Poole, whose son Bobby formed one of McKinlay’s search party. Apparently there was a champagne breakfast before departure. Mr. Poole also supplied the party with 200 pounds of bacon. McKinlay found the grave of Burke and others of his party near Cooper’s Creek and then launched off on an epic exploration himself in search of grazing country. In his search he named “Poole’s Creek” after the Mr. Poole of Willaston. McKinlay retired to Gawler, and died in 1872. He is buried in the Willaston Cemetery.
The Willaston Hotel has an association with another explorer, John McDouall Stuart. His final expedition, to find a way from the south to the north of Australia, left Adelaide on 26th October, 1861. He and his party reached the Indian Ocean on 25th July 1862. On their return, the expedition stopped at the Willaston Hotel on 19th January 1863. The South Australian Register reported-
“A little before 10 o’clock Willaston seemed to be the centre of attraction and thither, the crowd repaired. On arrival there the explorers were seen getting ready their saddle and pack horses, which being concluded they and a number of the gentlemen of Gawler assembled in the large room of Mr. Poole’s Willaston Hotel where a substantial luncheon was laid out.”
Unfortunately, Stuart was not in attendance, due to ill health. The party then left the hotel with a full procession, including brass bands, which stretched for a quarter of a mile. The party camped at the Little Para, where Stuart joined them. They then proceeded into Adelaide on the 21st January 1863 to a heroes welcome, with crowds lining the streets and celebrating with a public holiday.
In the booklet “Willaston Revisited: January 1988”, Gerald Carmody reflects on his early life in Willaston, 40 years before.- “As a very young boy, I remembered my grandfather telling me about the horse trough that stood on the foot path outside this hotel. On a Sunday morning (he said) the water in the trough would be red with blood. Bare knuckle fisticuffs were the order of the day on Saturday nights.”
The hotel closed in 1920. It later became a private residence. In 1987 for a short time, it housed an antique business conducted by Frank and Thelma Banister.
The following information has been gathered with permission from “Hotels and Publicans in South Australia” by J.L. (Bob) Hoad Adelaide 1986 ISBN 0 86745 002 9 and ISBN 0 9595446 2 3
VICTORIA HOTEL – Willaston
See – Willaston, 33 Main North Road, Willaston
Existed 1866 – 1984 - ?
Known as Victoria Hotel 1866 - 28.8.1958.
Known as Willaston Hotel 29.8.1958 – 1984 - ?
National Trust Recorded List [Item no. 860]
Licencee/Publican
1866 Scown T.
1867 – 1869 Scown C.T.
1869 – 1870 Robertson G.
1870 – 1882 Barnfield Robt.
1883 – 1898 Smith Wm. Hy.
1899 – 1901 Sampson Jno.
1902 Kinnane Mrs.
1903 – 1905 Crabb R.J.F.
1906 – 1908 Fitzsimmons B.
1908 – 1910 Hood Eliza Mrs.
1911 Lawler Mrs.
1912 – 1913 Connolly Jno.
1914 – 1916 Nottle Chas.
1917 Clarke A.W.
1918 Julian Jas.
1919 – 1920 Oschar Jas. L.
1921 O’Dwyer J.J.
1922 Watters J.C.
1923 – 1930 Hutchens H.R. [Hutchins?]
1931 – 5.9.1932 Pope R.V.
6.9.1932 – 28.12.1933 King Robt. A.
29.12.1933 – 27.11.1944 King Jessie May
28.11.1944 – 14.3.1948 King Jessie May & Pring Henry Oswald Lloyd
15.3.1948 – 30.12.1956 Bennett Jack
31.12.1956 – 19.3.1960 Bennett Jack & Gladys May
20.3.1960 – 8.2.1964 Hoffman Glen Stuart & Ethel Melva
9.2.1964 – 17.1.1966 Watson Arthur John & Claire Millicent
18.1.1966 – 7.5.1972 Watson Arthur John
8.5.1972 – 1.5.1976 Emes Clifford Maxwell & Phyllis
2.5.1976 – 1.5.1979 Playford Geoffrey Malcolm & Patricia Anne
2.5.1979 – 20.6.1979 Cummings Jane Teresa
21.5.1979 – 7.2.1981 Jennings Robert Hervin & Keith William
8.2.1981 – 20.3.1983 Morgan Peter Harry & Jennifer Ann
21.3.1983 – 13.8.1984 Marshall Donald Victor
14.8.1984 - ? Hodgens Gregory Wayne
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