The Mining Arms Hotel

Statement of Significance

The Mining Arms Hotel has high historic significance as the first wayside inn/hotel to operate in the Chapman Valley
District. Further the place has historic value for its association with Samuel Hadley Jupp, a well known early settler
of the area. The building served the local community in a variety of ways over the years and is held in high esteem
by Chapman Valley residents. The building makes an important contribution to the Nabawa townscape as one of the
few remaining buildings of significance and age, other than houses. Unfortunately re-routing of the main road has
removed its prominent place in the town.

Physical Description

The original section of the hotel is of local stone construction with a hipped corrugated iron roof. The roof extends
broken back to cover the verandah to the north facade which is partly enclosed with fibro sheeting. The large 1911
addition is of brick construction and extends to the western side of the original building. The main section has a
hipped roof with ventilation gablets. A separate verandah roof addresses the road and is supported on timber posts
with a brick balustrade between. The brickwork has been painted cream and the feature rendered banding is
painted peach. The western facade features a decorative rendered pediment and frieze parapet facade above the
verandah.

History

Samuel Hadley Jupp, a bootmaker from England, came to Western Australia with his wife in the 1860s. Arriving in
the Chapman Valley district, Jupp secured plenty of work in his trade from the shepherds who worked on the Bowes
and Mt Erin pastoral properties, as well as the miners from the nearby lead mines. It was not long before the Jupps
purchased a small block of land at Nabawa, and having obtained a wayside licence, (the first for the district), built
and opened the first hotel in Nabawa. `The Mining Arms Hotel,' opened in 1889, was a place where travellers, local
miners and farmers could obtain service for themselves and their horses. Part of this original wayside house remains
in the old hotel. This building had random rubble outer walls and mud brick inner walls. Mr Samuel Jupp was a
prominent community member who was involved in several projects aimed at bettering the district, e.g., foundation
member of the Upper Chapman Road Board, Nabawa Cemetery Board as well as working towards establishing the
first Nabawa Hall and providing a suitable War Memorial, which he had the honour of unveiling shortly before his
death in 1926.
Jupp's son-in-law, Robert Gould, bought the hotel in 1910. The following year Mr Gould commissioned Kent &
Cardalini to design and build in brick two more bars to the front of the existing building in the style of the period.
Other additions included more bedrooms, an office as well as a dining room which was opened to the public for
meals. In the early days there were also stables which travellers used for their horses. Around this time the name of
the hotel changed to `Nabawa Hotel'. Over the years the hotel was the focal point of the district serving at different
times as a hospital, church (Church of England), sports venue, railway terminal, bank, store and home to many.
There was a large orange orchard alongside the hotel.
In the 1930s a clerk from the New South Wales Bank would come from Geraldton each Thursday so that locals could
carry out their business. Mr Gould leased the hotel for a while, then in 1938 he turned it over to his son Charlie. In
1942 Charlie Gould later sold the hotel to Jules and Harry Heinsen. He sold it to Geraldton publican, Nick Pilatis in
1950. The hotel closed on June 30, 1973 and is now a private home. A replacement tavern was opened on the main
road adjacent to the present sports ground on July 1, 1973.
The original hotel, which was located along the left hand side of the present building, was extended into a more
substantial building over the years. A beer garden was located under a large peppercorn tree on the same side. The
room located directly behind the hotel was the office, the local school teacher and post master often used the
boarding house for accommodation.

Integrity/Authenticity

Integrity: Medium
Original Fabric: See Below
Modifications: Additions over time

Condition

Fair

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.