Metropole Hotel

Author

City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder

Place Number

00185

Location

1 Burt St Boulder

Location Details

Local Government

Kalgoorlie-Boulder

Region

Goldfields

Construction Date

Constructed from 1897, Constructed from 1898

Demolition Year

N/A

Statutory Heritage Listings

Type Status Date Documents
(no listings)

Heritage Council Decisions and Deliberations

Type Status Date Documents
RHP - To be assessed Current 13 Feb 2004

Other Heritage Listings and Surveys

Type Status Date Grading/Management
Category
Municipal Inventory Adopted 09 Jul 2001 Category 2
Register of the National Estate Registered 21 Oct 1980
Statewide Hotel Survey Completed 01 Nov 1997
Classified by the National Trust Classified 19 Jul 1977

Statement of Significance

Metropole Hotel has aesthetic value as a good representative example of the Federation Filigree style common in the Australian pub tradition as a two-storey hotel with verandahs, located on a prominent street corner. Metropole Hotel is aesthetically linked to the Albion Shamrock Hotel, Tattersall's Hotel, and the Grand Hotel in Burt Street, with its parapet and verandahs that extend over the pavement. The building is an important element of the streetscape of Burt Street, enhanced by the verandah and balcony which extend over the pavement. Metropole 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. Metropole Hotel is significant for its continuity of use.

Physical Description

An asymmetrical two-storey corner building, built to the street alignment, in the Federation Filigree Style (Apperly et al, 1989). The building has a verandah and balcony that wrap the facades and extend over the pavement. The exterior features a low tower and a parapeted gable with a non-pointed apex. Contrasting colours and textures have been used

History

Documentary Evidence: The building was established as a hotel and continues to be used as a hotel. The Insurance Plans for Boulder c. 1900 illustrate Lot 61 as having the Metropole Hotel and two shops (facing Burt Street) constructed of brick, one being Nichols Tobacconist. The current beer garden of the Metropole is located where the two brick shops were located. The Plans show that the Hotel had a verandah that extended across the building facade and over the pavement. Patrick Corcoran was an early publican of the Metropole Hotel (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

Condition

Fair - Poor

References

Ref ID No Ref Name Ref Source Ref Date
Webb M; "Golden Destiny: The Centenary History of Kalgoorlie-Boulder and the Eastern Goldfields of Western Australia". p. 543-544 City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder 1993

Place Type

Individual Building or Group

Uses

Epoch General Specific
Present Use COMMERCIAL Hotel, Tavern or Inn
Original Use COMMERCIAL Hotel, Tavern or Inn

Architectural Styles

Style
Federation Free Style

Construction Materials

Type General Specific
Roof METAL Corrugated Iron
Wall BRICK Common Brick
Other STONE Other Stone

Historic Themes

General Specific
SOCIAL & CIVIC ACTIVITIES Sport, recreation & entertainment
OCCUPATIONS Hospitality industry & tourism

Creation Date

23 Mar 1989

Publish place record online (inHerit):

Approved

Last Update

31 Dec 2016

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.