Williams Hotel

Child Places

• 16049 Blacksmith Shop/Butcher's Shop

Statement of Significance

The site is important for its association with one of the first wayside inns built on the Perth / Albany
Road.
The building is an excellent example of a country hotel from that period. It is an important part of
the town's original building stock and makes a positive contribution to the streetscape.

Physical Description

Situated near the Williams River Bridge on the Albany Road. The owner George Brice (from 1905)
had other buildings constructed in the 11 acre site. There included Kings Hall (1912) and the
Garage 1928.

History

Local legend has it that as early as 1851, there existed a structure built of stone and pug or split
jarrah with a roof thatched with black boy rushes (1) purporting to be a wayside house or inn and
situated a little south of the present hotel. If such a building did exist, it could have been the first
building in Williams.
The first wayside inn licence for premises at Williams River bridge was initially granted to Alfred
Quartermaine in June, 1870, and later transferred to William Walter Cornwall in January 1972. (2)
In late 1886, or early 1887, William Walter Cornwall purchased from Stephen Monger, part of
location "D: (Millbrook) and Williams crown grant "Q", containing 4,574 acres, for £3,500. It is
presumed he continued operating a general store in a portion of the Millbrook premises. Having
decided to build a new hotel at Kojonup, he transferred the inn licence at Williams to George Lilley
in January, 1887. He returned to Williams in 1892 and resumed as "mine host" at the local inn but
remained only until October 1893, when he transferred the licence to his son, William.
The death of Charles Hamersley during 1895 created some major problems for those people
occupying sites on part of Williams crown grant'D" in the near vicinity of the bridge. They were
resolved by the reversion to the Crown of an area of approximately 143 acres from which an area of
about 11 acres was excised and declared as the original townsite during 1897. (3)
During 1911 alterations and additions were made by Brice, the owner of the Williams Inn. It was
then that the structure became a two-storey building and a self-contained electric lighting system
was installed. (4)
Publicans since Brice include: Ted Elliott, Tom MacDonald, Ned Wright, Flaherty, Lawrence,
Colin Pestell, John Trimble, Stringer and Jeannette Strickland (current).

Integrity/Authenticity

Modifications: Extensions 1912 and in later years
Extent of Original Fabric: Some

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.