Grand Hotel

Statement of Significance

Grand Hotel is aesthetically linked to the Metropole Hotel, Albion Shamrock Hotel, and the Tattersall's Hotel in Burt Street, with its external masonry walls at the building line and wrap around verandahs. Grand Hotel is a dominant element in the streetscape of Burt Street. Grand Hotel has historic value as a demonstration of the development that occurred in Boulder around the turn-of-the-century as it became the service centre of the district. Grand Hotel is representative of the Australian pub tradition as a two-storey hotel with verandahs, located on a prominent street corner. Grand Hotel is significant for its continuity of use.

Physical Description

A two-storey building built in the Federation Free style on a corner site to the street alignment. The building has a verandah and balcony that both extend across the facades and over the pavement. The balcony has been infilled with solid linings and the building has been extended. The fabric of the exterior of the building has been severely eroded as a result of sandblasting the paint finish.

History

The building was established as a hotel and continues to be used as a hotel. The Insurance Plans for Boulder c. 1900 illustrate that Lot 140 was occupied by the Grand Hotel (a brick building) and four iron outbuildings. A verandah and balcony extended across the building facades and over the pavement. Grand Hotel was the first brick building in the area. An imposing two-storey building of 30 rooms, it was built by Mulcahys in 1897. Although the practice at the time was to use saltwater when mixing mortar, Mulcahy purchased pure water making the building unique. Michael Byrne was the first publican of the Grand. He was acting Mayor, who together with another Boulder publican, Mick Mannion, led the Alluvial Rights Association protest against the amendment of the Mining Act during the volatile alluvial demonstrations (Boulder's Hidden Secrets, 1993). General Comments: The role of hotels was crucial to the social and economic life on the goldfields. If mines were the sources of the miner's wages, the hotels were the sinks into which a lot of it was poured. Hotels not only provided alcoholic drinks, food and accommodation, but provided men with comfortable surroundings quite beyond their normal experience. Hotels were also vital social centres for travellers and residents alike (Webb, 1993: 543-544).

Integrity/Authenticity

Integrity: High Authenticity: Moderate to Low

Condition

Fair - Poor

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

Publish place record online (inHerit):

Last Update