Narembeen Hotel

Statement of Significance

The Narembeen Hotel is exceptionally significant for its pivotal role in the development of the town and region of Narembeen. It demonstrates customs and ways of life that have changed and also continued through the years. The Hotel has a sense of place created by the memories of the events that have occurred in the place, and varying degrees of historic importance to individuals, community groups and the town of Narembeen. The Narembeen Hotel demonstrates close association with the pioneers of Narembeen. The Hotel demonstrates the importance of its location in the main street and opposite the railway station, and contributes to the townscape and character of Narembeen, in addition to the main street streetscape. It is the only hotel in Narembeen, and the only building with the street verandahs intact.

Physical Description

The one storey corner building opens onto the main street of the town and the Railway Station, and being the first permanent building in the Narembeen town, it was the prime location. The place is functional with verandahs wrapping around both street faces. The front bar is accessed by entry doors across the corner truncation. The accommodation and lounge entry are on the main street frontage, and the beer garden is along Currall Street (opposite Railway Station). The building is a brick and iron construction with a separate verandah roof. The entire street front external walls are rendered and painted a light colour. Originally, the light render was only from the window sill line upwards, with face brick below. The verandah columns were originally timber, they were replaced with steel columns when the verandah was replaced in 1975. The Dining Room and hotel accommodation rooms remain in the original condition. The bar area and lounge have been refurbished a number of times, but the structure and plan intention is evident. The weatherboard hotel laundry on the Churchill street frontage, is in danger of collapse. Facing the rear laneway, separate "motel" units were constructed, and in 1975 they were renovated and extended. The beer garden remains in its original location.

History

In 1920 Emu Hill was a town and Narembeen was the railhead siding. Both settlements applied to their respective, different electorates for a hotel license, and both were rejected. The Emu Hill application was rejected because it meant transferring a licence from Beverley. Narembeen was rejected because of its small settlement. When applications were re-submitted, the Beverley electorate had just had a referendum to reduce licences in the area. The Narembeen opponents were discounted when they did not appear at the York licensing office.
Charles Latham and Tom Savage took up land in 1910 and together with the few other families in East Kumminin, developed a small community. Latham not only developed a farm, but a
community and political power. He had lobbied for the hotel in Narembeen with other powerful allies in Henry Hale and Paddy Connolly. Connolly and Hale had purchased 30 acres from Savage's farm for the purpose of building the hotel and developing the other blocks. In 1922, Latham, Savage and Northmore established the Narembeen Progress Association. One of the first objectives of the Narembeen Progress Association was the provision of a hall or meeting place in Narembeen. Paddy Connolly and Henry Hale donated the land for the Narembeen Hall opened in September 1923, after the hotel.
The hotel opened in 1923, the town blocks had sold quickly. The need for law and order in the town of Narembeen was evident after the hotel was built and subsequently became the scene of many rowdy scenes with the influx of railway workers and clearers. In 1924 the Narembeen Road Board was established. By 1925 the railway infrastructure had expanded to link Narembeen to Merredin, and the town had a population of 2,100 people. Wheat and wool prices increased and the rural economy prospered and expanded on a large scale.
The nature of the wheat and sheep industry determines that seasonal workers are often in the region. The hotel provides the only accommodation in the town of Narembeen. The front bar and pool tables provide the social interaction for the itinerant workers and the local farmers to meet and wash away the dust of a hard days work on the land. The hotel has witnessed its own fluctuating fortunes with a number of changes of ownership and lessees.
Charles Latham was Chairman of the Emu Hill Progress Association until 1914 (AIF) and was elected to the local(Bruce Rock) Road Board in 1913. In 1921 he entered state parliament as a member for the York electorate in the legislative assembly (until 1942, when he was appointed to the Federal senate. In his position as MLA he lobbied for the Narembeen Hotel, together with Savage and another settler, Northmore, whose brother was the founder of the Legal firm Northmore, Hale and Davey. Northmore was also a judge in the Supreme Court. Through Henry Hale, a partner in Northmore's firm, they had contact with Paddy Connolly, a leading hotel financier who contracted Northmore, Hale and Davey. Hale

Integrity/Authenticity

Integrity: Some alterations have affected the integrity, most are reversible.
Authenticity: Medium to high degree

Condition

Good: requires extensive maintenance

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.