Federal Hotel

Statement of Significance

Federal Hotel, 45-49 (formerly 19-24) Throssell Street, Collie, constructed in the Federation Filigree style of architecture in about 1901 has cultural heritage significance. It has aesthetic value as a good example of a hotel constructed in the Federation Filigree style and makes a positive contribution to the streetscape of Collie. It has social and historic value as a hotel which has been in continuous operation since its construction in 1901 providing an important social venue for generations and contributing to the community’s sense of place.

Physical Description

Federal Hotel, built 1901, is a two storey brick and iron hotel built in the Federation Filigree style of architecture. It has two gablets to the roof, verandah and balcony to the upper floor, and a verandah over the pavement with chamfered timber posts on concrete base, set in pairs. The façade is painted dark red/burgundy to dado height, and cream paint with ashlar markings above to the ground floor. The upper floor is tuck pointed red brick. Windows and doors to the ground floor have arched heads and concrete sills. The balcony has simple timber fretwork and a simple timber balustrade. There is no decorative detail to the lower verandah. Windows are generally timber sash; those on the upper floor have intrusive air conditioning units inserted in the window openings. Doors to the ground floor (three in number) are panelled timber with top and side lights. From the east side three tall brick chimneys with corbelling are visible. This side wall is painted brick. The west wall is face brick, and there is one very tall brick chimney with corbelling visible. There is a single storey addition to this side of the original two storey hotel, built with arched window heads to match the original style.

History

Reference is made to the Federal Hotel, Collie in the Sunday Times of 9 September 1900.

John Tyson Jones sought a publican’s general licence in 1901 having received a provisional certificate the previous December. A previous submission for a full licence had been adjourned as the premises was not completed however Mr Tyson Jones reported that the work ‘would be completed in a week’s time, and the cost would be, including furniture £1,550’ (Southern Times, 29 June 1901, p4).

Published in 1901, Twentieth Century Impressions of Western Australia (www.nla.gov.au/nla.obj-31939829) records that the Federal Hotel ‘is now in course of enlargements, and when the additions to the building are finished, a complete metamorphosis of the well-known and old-established hostelry will have been effected’ (p586). The hotel would feature a ‘handsome’ dining hall, commercial room, drawing room, smoking room and billiard room. Twenty ‘comfortable, well-lighted, well-ventilated, and airy’ bedrooms were described.
A December 1903 report of the proceedings of the Collie Licensing Court notes that the Thomas Beswick’s license for the Federal Hotel was renewed (Southern Times, 8 December 1903, p3). By 1905, Mrs Mary Blakely was the licensee (Southern Times, 9 December 1905, p3). The Post Office Directories list Beswick at the Federal Hotel from 1902 to 1905 and M Blakely from 1906 to 1908.

Tyson Jones was reported as taking over the Federal Hotel in June 1908 (Southern Times 20 June 1908, p3). Two months later the same newspaper reported that Mr Tyson Jones had resigned his position as storekeeper at the Proprietary Collieries Ltd after seven years to take over the management of the Federal Hotel of which he was the proprietor (Southern Times, 15 August 1908, p4). Tyson is listed in the PO Directories at the hotel in 1909 and 1910.

In October 1911 the hotel was being leased by JE Hands from Bridget Jones (The Daily News, 16 October 1911, p8) although the PO Directories list David Williams there. A December 1910 newspaper refers to ‘Dave Williams’ Federal Hotel’ (Bunbury Herald, 17 December 1910, p5).

R Mason is listed at the Federal Hotel in 1912 followed by W Morgans for two years. Morgans is still listed in Collie for the following two years but not specifically at the Federal Hotel.

The Federal Hotel was ‘seriously threatened’ by the fire that destroyed numerous shops in January 1914 (The Daily News, 27 January 1914, p10)

In 1931 ‘The Western Mail Hotel Guide’ included the Federal Hotel in its ‘useful guide to the leading hotels in Western Australia’ (a list to which hotelkeepers could subscribe). Doc Oswald, was listed as the hotelkeeper at the time.

Walter Webb is listed at the hotel from 1917 to 1920 and following that, there is no specific reference to the hotel until 1926 when R Parker is listed for two years.

The Post Office Directories list Doc Oswald at the Federal Hotel from 1928 to 1933, R Oswald as the occupant of in 1934, followed by EM Oswald until 1937. Mrs Rebecca Oswald is listed as occupant from 1938 until 1949 when the Post Office records cease.

A prominent owner during the 1970’s and 1980’s was Eddie Woods. His connection to the shearing industry resulted in an outstanding wall mural in the public bar, some of which unfortunately was destroyed by a later owner.
A 1910 photograph contained in HW Williams One Day in Collie (p127) indicates that a butcher shop existed immediately to the west of the Federal Hotel.
The Post Office Directories include only a few entries at the address with SH Read in 1934, Roy Read in 1939 and 1940, G Christie in 1945 and VA Harrison in 1947. No indication of the use of the place is provided.

Integrity/Authenticity

High/ 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.