Terminus Hotel (fmr)

Statement of Significance

The former Terminus Hotel is of high local significance for its historic, aesthetic and research values. The Araucaria tree and London Plane tree are also significant for their age and aesthetic value. Aesthetic Value The building is of a simple design that demonstrates the continued influence of the Victorian Georgian style on rural shops and residences in the late nineteenth century. It has high aesthetic value and is prominently sited on the corner of Steere and Roe Streets, originally intended to be the central crossroad and main street of Bridgetown. Historic Value The Terminus is of medium historic value as the home, store and boarding house of Joseph Smith, a prominent early settler who built many original Bridgetown buildings and the first and third Blackwood River Bridges. It has high historic value as the Terminus Hotel, from January 1898 to May 1975. Research Value NA Social Value The former Terminus Hotel has always had a very high social value for both the locals and visitors to Bridgetown. As a public bar, accommodation and store, it was a strong social meeting place, and continues to be so today as a place for young families to come together, as well as for other community activities.

Physical Description

“The Terminus Hotel (former) is single storey with rendered, cavity brick walls, a mixture of concrete and timber floors, and a hipped short-sheet corrugated iron roof. The building is of a simple design that demonstrates the continued influence of the Victorian Georgian style on rural shops and residences in the late Nineteenth century.” The exterior of the original portion of the building is dominated by the broken-back hipped roof, the elevated return verandah and the face brick retaining wall to the street frontages. The latter replaced an earlier rendered masonry wall and supports a concrete verandah floor (originally timber), which is accessed by a set of recessed concrete steps. Historical photographs confirm that the verandah originally had square timber posts with no balustrade, but a single horizontal handrail had been introduced prior to c.1912. Following the conversion of the place to a community centre, vertical timber balusters were added to create a full balustrade. The external walls have been rendered and painted, with clear evidence that they were originally rendered and ruled to represent ashlar stone, a common finish during the nineteenth century. The bricks were locally made for the construction of this place and were fired at a relatively low temperature. The original windows are all double hung with six panes to each sash. Early doors are low-waisted with four panels, but the main front entrance has been replaced with a mid-twentieth century style glazed door. Major external alterations over time have included the construction of an early infill to the eastern return verandah, a rear kitchen wing, and a sequence of other infill additions and alterations across the original rear verandah. The interior of the Terminus Hotel (former) has been altered and extended, both as a hotel and for its current use as a community centre. However, the general layout of the original building can still be determined from the extant fabric.” There are two significant trees associated with the Terminus Hotel. The mature Cypress (Araucaria) tree and London Plane tree, situated in the playground to the east of the building, which was once the beer garden of the hotel, are considered significant to the history of the place. These For further details see the Conservation Management Plan for Terminus Hotel (former), September 2013

History

The Terminus Hotel (former) was built in 1894 by Joseph Smith as a home, general store and boarding house. It was of a typical Victorian Georgian style, constructed of hand-made bricks from local clay. Joseph Smith was an ex-convict and pioneer of Bridgetown, and became an active community member. As a builder and carpenter, prior to becoming a shopkeeper, he also constructed numerous other local buildings. In January 1898 Joseph Smith moved to a new home and leased the building out. It was converted into a hotel (1898) to maximise its position close to the new railway station and terminus of the Donnybrook-Bridgetown line, which opened later that year. Joseph Smith’s son Jack Smith owned and operated the hotel from 1912-1922 before entering a political career. The next long term proprietor was Frederick Ellis, from 1923-1947. There were various alterations and additions over the years, including in 1939 and possibly 1949. The building was bought by the Swan Brewery Co. in 1967 and continued to be used as a hotel until 1975. The Terminus Hotel was one of the first in Australia to have a ‘Beer Garden’ which was situated where the playground now is, east of the building. The large mature Araucaria tree and London Plane tree, situated in this garden area, are early exotic plantings and therefore significant to the history of the place. In 1976 the Swan Brewery donated the building to the town for a community centre and the title was transferred to the Terminus Youth and Community Recreation Centre on 16 June 1976. The Terminus Youth and Community Recreation Centre was officially opened by the Hon. G O MacKinnon MLC on 13 November 1976. For further details see the Conservation Management Plan for Terminus Hotel (former) September 2013.

Integrity/Authenticity

Medium The use of the Terminus Hotel (former) as a house and general store has been over-written by its early adaptation as a hotel, and later modifications to the fabric to adapt to changing hotel requirements over time. However its original use can still be readily interpreted. Medium Numerous alterations and additions have been undertaken over time.

Condition

Fair to Good

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

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