Hotel Australia (fmr)

Statement of Significance

The Coach House (Fmr Hotel Australia) a single-storey brick, stucco and corrugated iron building, showing influences of Federation Free Classical style has cultural heritage significance for the following reasons: • the place represents the fluctuating economic fortunes of the Goldfields and the Laverton area and its changes in population from the late nineteenth century through to the present day (2005); • the place is the only known remaining example of a hotel designed to incorporate an enclosed carriage way; the place has social and historic value to the community for its significant contribution to the historic townscape and character of Laverton, and is one of only a small group of buildings dating from the original development of the town in the early 1900s; • the place was the initial base of operations for prospector Ken Shirley, who was responsible for the discovery of nickel at Mt Windarra in 1969; • the place is rare as a single storey example of a hotel in the Federation Free Classical style, and as a hotel designed in this style in the Goldfields, and is a good example of this type of hotel; • the place has associations with former owner and publican George McOmish, who together with Tom Potts and Harry Dennis discovered gold north-east of Mount Margaret in 1896, which led to the development of mining in the Laverton area; and, • the place is associated with the redevelopment of Laverton in the 1970s after the establishment of the Windarra Nickel Project. The west wing extension, outbuildings and other structures to the rear of the property have no heritage significance. The adjacent transportable buildings are intrusive.

Physical Description

hipped roof clad in corrugated iron. The front of the building faces a treed and grassed area that was once known as Laverton Street, the main street in Laverton. Today this street is known as Laverton Place and no longer functions as a vehicular right-of-way. The rear of the building (western side) backs onto McPherson Place. Two pedestrian right-of-ways are located on the northern and southern sides of the building providing access to Laver Place and the Laverton Swimming Pool, which is located on the eastern side of Laver Place. According to the documentation written in 2006 by Laura Gray, the Coach House had no verandah running across the front of the building although photographs taken by J. Carter in 1975 show the building with a skillion roofed verandah across the front of the building. However, an historic photograph of the building indicates that the building was not originally constructed with a verandah. The front façade features a symmetrical parapet with a central pediment together with moulded details and pilasters. A wide opening at the northern end of the façade provided access for carriages to the rear courtyard of the building. The tuckpointed brickwork has been painted. A wing on the western side of the building was added in the 1970s, together with an ablution block along the south boundary. The western wing replaces what had been the original accommodation block for the building. The building has been divided into two separate shops accessed through double doors at the front. These doors lead into a separate corridor with doors opening off into the two shops. Both shops feature original oregon floorboards and other original features have been retained. The kitchen was refurbished during the 1970s.

History

Assessment 2010 Construction 1901 Alterations/additions: 1970, 1981, 1987 Architect/designer E.W. Robinson Builder: Woodwork: Messrs Judge & Stamp of Malcolm. Brickwork by Mr J Edwards. The burnt bricks were supplied by Messrs baker and Co The discovery of gold at Coolgardie in 1892 lead to further prospecting in the general vicinity. Tom Potts, Harry Dennis and George McOmish discovered gold north-east of Mt Margaret in 1896. Dr Charles Laver assisted the three men to finance the mining venture and also helped to secure finance for other claimants in the area. The town of Laverton was gazetted in 1899 in honour of Dr Laver, to service the mines that had developed around the original discovery. By 1901 the town boasted four hotels that included the Coach House (fmr Australia Hotel), the first permanent hotel to be constructed in brick on Laver Street. The owner, Richard Lancaster, commissioned local architect W.E. Roberston to prepare designs for the building and a number of local contractors supplied various components for the building. The hotel changed hands many times over the years and by the time local postmaster Don Leahy acquired the building in 1966 it had been vacant for some years. During 1968 – 69, mining company Poseidon N.L. had various nickel claims pegged around the area of Mt Windarra. They employed local prospector Ken Shirley to investigate the claims and he used the Coach House as his base of operations. Shirley’s discovery of rich nickel deposits in 1969 saw Poseidon’s share prices rise sharply and led to the development of the Mt Windarra nickel mine in 1974. The resurgence of mining in the area saw Laverton re-born as a mining town as it became the base for mining operations out at Mt Windarra. New accommodation was constructed specifically to house the miners and their families and the additions and refurbishment to the Coach House at this time reflect Laverton’s revival. The Windarra Nickel project closed in 1994 and once again many businesses closed down. The Coach House closed in 2002. In May 2005 (the time of the HCWA assessment), only the residential flat in the west wing was in use.

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Historic Themes

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