Narembeen Hotel

Parent Place or Precinct

06686 Main Street Precinct

Values

• The place contributes to the streetscape and townscape of Narembeen as it is located in a prominent corner location in the centre of town.
• The place is the only hotel in Narembeen and was the first permanent building constructed in Narembeen, representing the beginning of the town.
• The place is rare as a small scale, single storey hotel in Western Australia.
• The place has a close association with the pioneer of the Narembeen townsite as it was initiated by the pioneers of the town, Hale, Latham and Savage, who bought the land from Savage for the site of the Hotel.

Physical Description

The Shire of Narembeen Municipal Inventory states: ‘The one storey corner building opens onto the main street of the town and the Railway Station, and being the first permanent building in the Narembeen town, it was the prime location. The place is functional with verandahs wrapping around both street faces. The front bar is accessed by entry doors across the corner truncation. The accommodation and lounge entry are on the main street frontage, and the beer garden is along Curall Street.’ ‘The building is a brick and iron construction with a separate verandah roof. The entire street front external walls are rendered and painted a light colour. Originally the light render was only from the window sill line upwards with face brick below. The verandah columns were originally timber, they were replaced with steel columns when the verandah was replaced in 1975. The Dining room and hotel accommodation rooms remain in the original condition. The bar area and lounge have been refurbished a number of different times, but the structure and plan intention is evident.

History

The Shire of Narembeen Municipal Inventory states: ‘In 1920, Emu Hill was a town and Narembeen was the railhead siding. Both settlements applied to their respective, different electorates for a hotel license, and both were rejected. The Emu Hill application was rejected because it meant transferring a license from Beverley. Narembeen was rejected because of its small settlement. When applications were re-submitted, the Beverley electorate had just had a referendum to reduce licences in the area. The Narembeen opponents were discounted when they did not appear at the York Licensing office.’ ‘Charles Latham and Tom Savage took up land in 1910 and together with the few other families in East Kumminin, developed a small community. Latham not only developed a farm, but also obtained community and political power. He had lobbied for the hotel in Narembeen with other powerful allies in Henry Hale and Paddy Connolly. Connolly and Hale had purchased 30 acres from Savage’s farm for the purpose of building the hotel and developing the other blocks. In 1922,Latham, Savage and Northmore established the Narembeen Progress Association. One of the first objectives of the Narembeen Progress Association was the provision of a hall or meeting place in Narembeen. Paddy Connolly and Henry Hale donated the land for the Narembeen Hall, which opened in September 1923 after the hotel.’ ‘Charles Latham was Chairman of the Emu Hill Progress Associated until 1914 and was elected to the local (Bruce Rock) Road Board in 1913. In 1921, he entered state parliament as a member for the York electorate in the legislative assembly (until 1942, when he was appointed to the Federal senate. In his position as MLA he lobbied for the Narembeen Hotel, together with Savage and another settler, Northmore, whose brother was the founder of the Legal firm Northmore, Hale and Davey. Northmore was also a judge in the Supreme Court. Through Henry Hale, a partner in Northmore’s firm, they had contact with Paddy Connolly, a leading hotel financier. ‘The hotel opened in 1923, the town blocks had sold quickly. The need for law and order in the town of Narembeen was evident after the hotel was built and subsequently became the scene of many rowdy scenes with the influx of railway workers and clearers. In 1924, the Narembeen Roads Board was established. By 1925, the railway infrastructure had expanded to link Narembeen to Merredin and the town had a population of 2100 people. Wheat and wool prices increased and the rural economy prospered and expanded on a large scale.’ ‘The nature of the wheat and sheep industry determines that seasonal workers are often in the region. The hotel provides the only accommodation in the town of Narembeen. The front bar and pool tables provide the social interaction for the itinerant workers and the local farmers to meet. The hotel has witnessed its own fluctuation fortunes with a number of changes of ownership and lessees.’

Integrity/Authenticity

High

Condition

Good Good

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

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