Beadon Hotel

Statement of Significance

The Beadon Bay Hotel, has cultural heritage significance for the following reasons:
it is a good example of the Federation Filigree style of architecture, which has a deep shady verandah with decorative timber elements around a solid concrete block central core.
it is valued as a place where social interaction, refreshments, accommodation and entertainment have been provided for the local community, workers and the travelling public since 1926.
as one of the first buildings erected in the new Onslow townsite, the Hotel has had a long association with the development of the Town.

Physical Description

Exterior: The Beadon Bay Hotel stands on the eastern corner of Second Avenue and Simpson Street. It is a two-storey building with a low-pitched corrugated-iron roof, characteristic of the Federation Filigree style despite its Inter-war construction date. A two-storey verandah wraps around the entire structure, supported by timber posts with scroll brackets. The ground-floor verandah has a mixed surface of concrete, pavers and tiles, and a contemporary glass entry on the Simpson Street side. The ground floor features timber sash windows, some of which have lost their original mullioned top panes. The first floor has timber French doors with fanlights, originally providing bedroom access to the verandah.
Interior: The building has a U-shaped plan. A corner entrance leads into the bar, while a second entrance from Second Avenue opens to a small office and stair hall. A central courtyard, partly covered by a skillion verandah, provides access to the rear beer garden added in 2015. Original ground-floor elements include timber floors, panel doors, plaster vents, timber stairs and skirtings. The upper floor originally contained fifteen bedrooms, each opening to the verandah via French doors. The 2015 works combined the Simpson Street-facing rooms into a large dining space, retaining sections of the timber stud framing to interpret the former layout. The upper level has timber floorboards and timber sash windows overlooking the open central courtyard.

History

Founded in 1883 at the mouth of the Ashburton River, Onslow developed as a port exporting wool from surrounding sheep stations. After repeated cyclone and flood damage, the government established a new townsite northeast of the original settlement. New Onslow was gazetted in 1924, with land sales beginning in 1925. The Beadon Hotel was built in 1926, run by the Cornish family.
Unlike many early structures, the hotel was not timber and iron. Builder R. Rennie, assisted by the Cornish family, produced grey concrete blocks on site using imported cement. One block stamped by Cyril Cornish with his initials and the date became the informal foundation stone. Although architect J. H. Eales was sometimes credited, contemporary reports confirm Jack Learmonth Ochiltree as the designer, with construction costs of about £7,000.
The hotel originally contained twenty single rooms, seven double rooms, and an eleven-foot verandah used during race week to house up to fifty extra beds. It was commonly known as “Hotel Beadon.” The 1934 cyclone caused major damage, destroying much of the upper storey, which was rebuilt the same year. The hotel continued as a key social venue in the town.
Subsequent changes included motel units added in the 1970s. In 2014–15 the Complete Group carried out major redevelopment, conserving and adapting the historic building, demolishing later additions, constructing new accommodation along the south-eastern side, and adding a bottle shop accessed from Simpson Street.

Archaeology

Given the site underwent a major redevelopment in 2015, with substantial ground disturbance, it is unlikely to have a high level of archaeological potential.

Integrity/Authenticity

Moderate. Accommodation is no longer included in the original hotel building. External additions and internal alterations including refurbishment of the bar and adaptation of the rooms has diminished the authenticity of the place.

Condition

Good. Conservation works in 2015 have harnessed deterioration of the original fabric.

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.