Ship Hotel

Statement of Significance

The Ship Hotel, a brick stucco and iron Federation Filigree hotel building and Victorian Georgian stables building, has cultural heritage significance as an important Busselton landmark building and a fine example of the style and period. The place also contains an important early Victorian Georgian set of stables. It has been an important social gathering place since its construction and it contributes to the community’s sense of place.

Physical Description

Two storey hotel building and single storey stables, with late twentieth century accommodation units to the southern side of the main buildings.
The extant hotel is a single and two storey painted brick, stucco and iron building in the Federation Filigree style, with a cantilevered verandah at first floor, hipped roof and gabled features.
To the rear there is stone barn or stables with a gabled roof.
Other substantial additions include a bottle shop to the west and brick construction bedrooms to the south of the 1910 building.

History

Joseph Bovell arrived in Western Australia on 20 October 1859 aboard the West Australian with his wife Elizabeth Burnside and son. He was later to become the proprietor of the Ship Hotel. A later hotel built around 1910 stands on the site of the original Ship Hotel, while the stables to the original building have survived. Subsequently in the course of the twentieth century, numerous changes and additions have taken place including a drive in bottle shop, accommodation units and a pool. The Original Ship Inn, previously known as the Ship Tavern was single storey and constructed from limestone with shingle roof in 1847 by George Guerrier. The original Inn was situated on this site but behind the second and extant Ship Hotel. The Victorian/Georgian limestone barn/stables remains intact situated to the west of the original building. The position for the Tavern was chosen due to it being situated on the main thoroughfare from the beach to ‘Cattle Chosen’ and ‘Fairlawn’ and was on the westward route to Dunsborough and Castle Bay.

Integrity/Authenticity

Integrity Notes: The place is in use for its intended purpose and retains a moderate degree of integrity.
Authenticity Notes: The place has been the subject of numerous changes and retains a moderate degree of authenticity.

Moderate Degree/Moderate Degree

Condition

Good

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.