Ship Hotel & Site

Child Places

• 18177 Ship Hotel
• 18178 Ship Hotel Stables

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

The former stables are in the Victorian Georgian style constructed in limestone with a steeply pitched roof clad in corrugated sheet metal. The building is constructed of hand‐hewn limestone, with windows in the long walls and doors and hayloft door in the gable end. The openings are supported on timber lintels. It has a lean‐to structure on the south
and a timber pergola to the north.
The two storey brick hotel is an 'L' plan addressing the corner with the main entrance on this corner. The most prominent feature are the cantilevered verandahs with metal supports that feature a circular motif. The corrugated metal clad roof extends to create the roof of the upper floor balcony. The windows of the upper level main facades are timber framed sash windows, regularly spaced. The lower level facades also feature original timber doors and windows.
The later additions to the rear and sides of the building do not impact on the main views of the original building.

History

The Original Ship Inn, previously known as the Ship Tavern was single storey building constructed from limestone with shingle roof in 1847 by George Guerrier. This building was situated on this site but behind the second and extant Ship Hotel. The limestone former barn/stable likely date from this earlier program of works remain 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. By the 1880s the tavern was under the management of Irish born Joseph Bovell who had arrived in Western Australia on 20 October 1859 aboard the 'West Australian' with his wife Elizabeth Burnside and Alexander Robert.
In 1901, Joseph offered the Ship Tavern for sale. At that time the place included 16 bedrooms, Bar, Tap Room, Dining Room, Commercial Sample Room, Loft with eight beds, 2 parlours, kitchen and Spare Room. There was also a separate weatherboard room and the limestone stables containing 21 stalls. Joseph Bovell died in 1903.
By 1905, the Proprietor J.H. Shekelton announced that the 'Old Ship Tavern' had been rebuilt and renovated and offered first class accommodation for visitors.
Interestingly in March 1908, J.H.Shekleton offered the property for public auction and the only bidder was Alexander Bovell with a bid of £1. By the middle of the year Alexander Bovell applied for a publicans general license stating that architect Eustace Cohen had designed alterations and additions for the hotel.
In 1927, the owner Mr A.F. Palandri engaged architect Jack Leamonth Ochiltree to design a new building. It was described in the West Australian as 'a two storey structure with a frontage of 55ft to one street and 100ft to another and involves the demolition of the old timber premises. The new building will contain about 22 bedrooms, saloon, and
front bars, dining rooms and other conveniences, sewerage, and hot and cold water services. A verandah on cantilever brackets will be built on both frontages.' A tender of £8650 was accepted by Ochiltree from contractor R. Rennie for the works. The new hotel was opened in October 1928.
Since the Inter War period, the large property has seen many new additions on the site. The original building has retained its original form and extent although being updated to contemporary standards.

Integrity/Authenticity

High/High

Condition

Good

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

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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.