Former Club Hotel, 180 Main Street, STAWELL

The former Club Hotel building at 180 Main Street, Stawell, makes a significant contribution to the architectural and visual amenity of the predominantly 19th and early 20th century commercial streetscape. The form and rear sections of the building also contribute to the architectural amenity of the area. Built in 1875 as the Club Hotel for a Miss Nihill to a design by Ararat architect, Mr. Ryan, the interior was remodelled and a verandah erected to the design of Stawell and Melbourne architect George Inskip in 1876 for the tenant Mr. Fern. The building later served as the printing office of the Stawell Times in the late 19th century and as the clubrooms of the local R.S.L. between World War One and Two. Although altered, it appears to be in good condition when viewed from the street. 

The former Club Hotel building at 180 Main Street is architecturally significant at a LOCAL level. Although altered, it still demonstrates original design qualities of a Victorian style. These qualities include the recessed chamfered corner that addresses the intersection of Main and Patrick Streets and the rudimentary parapet with a projecting moulded stringcourse below. Other intact or appropriate qualities include the two storey height, brick wall construction (but not the overpainting), irregularly-arranged segmentally arched timber framed double hung windows on the first and ground floors, ground floor door openings, rendered brick voussoirs about the building corners, moulded window and door architraves and the rough-faced stone plinth. The rear hipped roof form clad in galvanised corrugated iron and red, face brick chimneys, brick wall construction (but not overpainting) including the brick side parapet wall, and the segmentally arched timber framed double hung windows at the rear also contribute to the significance of the place.

The former Club Hotel building at 180 Main Street is historically significant at a LOCAL level. It is associated with commercial developments in Stawell after the 1874 fire. In particular, this building is associated with a Miss Nihill, original owner who instigated construction in 1875. She operated the Club Hotel, but by 1888 the building had become the printing office of the Stawell Times. The building also has associations with the R.S.L., being its clubrooms between the First and Second World Wars. The building has further associations with the Ararat architect Mr. Ryan and Stawell architect, George Inskip, designed the verandah (now demolished) and remodelled the interior.

Overall, the former Club Hotel building at 180 Main Street is of LOCAL significance.