Colliefields Hotel

Statement of Significance

Colliefields Hotel, 91 Throssell Street, Collie, a two storey rendered brick and iron hotel constructed in the Federation Filigree style in 1898, has cultural heritage significance as one of the two original hotels in Collie. It has historic and social significance as an important social venue for generations and for its contribution to the community’s sense of place. Although much of its original detailing has been lost, it continues to form a landmark at the corner of Throssell and Street Streets and makes a positive contribution to the streetscape.

Physical Description

The Colliefields Hotel, built 1902, is a two storey brick hotel built in the Federation Filigree styel of architecture. Historic photos show the building had balconies to both sides with decorative ironwork and a decorative corner parapet, but all these details have been lost. The building today (2016) has a painted brick and tile façade with no verandahs to the upper floor, and a suspended steel verandah roof over the pavement, extending only a short way along the Steere Street elevation. The rear wall is red face brick. Windows are timber sash to the upper storey.

History

The first Colliefields Hotel was small weatherboard and iron building constructed by Mr Tom Carrig in 1897 (HW Williams One Day in Collie 1979, p 30-41) and was one of the first hotels in the town. It would seem that the original hotel was built on a different site with the 1997 Statewide Hotel Survey (National Trust of Australia (WA)) suggesting that it was constructed on the other side of Throssell Street and Williams suggesting it was constructed on the wrong site. The hotel was described in both documents as being sufficient in size only for the erection of a bar and for dispensing drinks but with the necessary billiard table. In June 1898 the Bunbury Herald began advertised that ‘Carrigg’s Collie Coalfield Hotel’ offered ‘excellent accommodation…comfortable rooms and a good menu’ (Bunbury Herald 17 December 1898) By December 1898 the Bunbury Herald noted that the towns two hotel keepers, Messers Cox and Carrigg, were considering additions to their premises to accommodate the growing demand (Bunbury Herald 28 June 1898, p3). In June 1899, the licence for the Collifields Hotel was transferred from Thomas Carrigg to Mr Frederick William Crow (Bunbury Herald 6 June 1899, p3). By September it was reported that Mr Crow, ‘the genial landlord of the Colliefields Hotel, is having large additions made to his hotel, which are well on towards completion, consisting of a billiard room, shop and additional bedrooms’ (Bunbury Herald 30 September 1899, p3). The Post Office Directories record Crow at the Colliefields Hotel in 1900 and 1901. By 1902 he is at the Crown Hotel. In November 1899 a fire broke out in a small outhouse at the Colliefields Hotel. The room had been used for storage and as the yardman’s bedroom. The structure, valued at £15, had contained the ‘books, instruments and drugs’ belonging to Dr Bennington. It was reported that Dr Bennington ‘possessed one of the most valuable private medical libraries in the colony’ and that he was ‘quite disconsolate at this loss’ (Southern Times 7 November 1899, p6). Other reports describe the loss as being valued at £75 and over £300 (Bunbury Herald 4 November 1899, p3 and The Daily News 3 November 1899, p3). The Bunbury Herald of 24 March 1900 reported the construction of a large hall for Mr Crow of Colliefields Hotel (p3). In September the same paper reported that Mr Crow had sold to Mr A Krakouer (Bunbury Herald 4 September 1900, p3). By December it was reported that Mr Crow had been granted a provisional licence for a hotel to be constructed nearby on Throssell Street (Bunbury Herald 8 December 1900, p3) A small fire broke out on 19 March 1902 when a candle left burning set bedroom furniture alight but little damage was done. (Southern Times 22 March 1902, p5). Fire struck again a few days later on the morning of 25 March when ‘the hotel was absolutely destroyed, the building being burned to the ground’. At this time the hotel was owned by Mr T Craig of Greenbushes. Mr R Krakouer was the licensee. The report in The West Australian on 26 March 1902 further states that ‘it was one of the oldest buildings in Collie, and it was the first structure of any pretension to be erected in the town’ (p7). The inquest which was held on 26 March heard that the fire was thought to have broken out in ‘three distinct parts of the building simultaneously’. Whilst the jury decided that there was insufficient evidence to show how the fire started ‘there were some grounds for a suspicion of incendiarism’ (29 March 1902, p26). In May it was reported that the Schurmann Bros would erect the new Colliefields Hotel. ‘The building will be of brick and is of two stories. The contract price is a little under £2,000’ (Southern Times 17 May 1902, p4). Reference is again made to the Colliefields Hotel by March 1903. In October 1903 the Colliefields Hotel was transferred to Mr J Luke (Southern Times 17 October 1903, p2). There is some reference in newspaper advertisements to the Colliefields Hotel being known as Tattersals (Southern Times 31 December 1903, p2). In October 1904 the licensee was FT Daniels (Southern Times 1 October 1904, p4). The Post Office Directories list DanieIs at the Hotel in 1904 and 1905. In July 1905 the Southern Times referred to Mr E Hunt as the proprietor (11 July 1905, p3) who is listed there in 1906 (PO Directories). In July 1906 the licence was transferred to Mr Lorenz Eichhorn (Southern Times 6 June 1906, p4) whose farewell was later reported in the same paper (16 November 1907 p7). Additions to the hotel were reported in the Southern Times on 15 February 1908 (p3) by which time Mrs Margaret Carrigg is the licensee (Southern Times 8 February 1908, p4). Fire again threatened the Colliefields Hotel in May 1909 when a fire broke out in a group of 8 wooden shops between the Colliefields and the Crown Hotel. The eight shops were destroyed. In May 1910 the licensee was Andy Brophy (Southern Times, 19 May 1910, p6). The licence was transferred to EJ Elliott in June 1911 (Southern Times 10 June 1911, p4). By May 1913, Jack Dillon was the licensee (Southern Times 10 May 1913). The c1910 photograph above shows a two storey building constructed adjacent to the Colliefields Hotel. At the time of the photograph this building was occupied by a tobacconist. The Post Office Directories from 1934 to 1949 indicate that, during that time, it was occupied by JD Robinson, hairdresser and tobacconist. It would seem likely that this building has been incorporated into the Colliefields Hotel. In December 1914 the Collie Mail reported that ‘the Colliefields Hotel of today can hardly be recognised as the “Colliefields” of the past, so great have been the improvements effected by the present proprietors, Messrs Dillon and McCalmont’ (23 December 1914, p6). Dentist, EW Dermer advertised in June 1918 that he had secured rooms at the Colliefields Hotel and could be consulted every Monday from 10am to 5pm (Collie Mail 8 June 1918, p2). In May 1929 the licensee was reported as Mr David Stewart Fimister (The West Australian 10 May 1929, p10). Later that year it was reported that Mr George Fimister was licencee (The Daily News, 20 August 1929, p9). The Post Office Directories record neither Stewart not Fimister at the Colliefields in that year, rather listing George Thrum there in 1929 and 1930. D Finister (probably Fimister) is recorded there in 1931 and 1932. J Carrigg is recorded at the Colliefields Hotel from 1934 until 1939, with J Naylor from 1940 until 1944, followed by JD Sketchley until 1949 when the Post Office Directories cease. In October 1950 it was report that Mr J Sketchley had sold the licence of the Colliefields Hotel, having been licensee for many years (The West Australian 5 October 1950, p1). The hotel fell into disrepair in the second half of the twentieth century. In 2001, the hotel was purchased by Nancy Hall and closed for business in 2002. It was purchased by the current owners in 2009 who made plans to redevelop the hotel to provide accommodation and restaurant facilities.

Integrity/Authenticity

Medium / Medium

Condition

Fair

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

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