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Moorabbee Hotel (former)

Location

11 Knowsley-Eppalock Road, KNOWSLEY VIC 3523 - Property No 216164

Level

Included in Heritage Overlay

Statement of Significance

What is significant?

The former Moorabee Hotel, including all the fabric of the 1870s timber building and the later additions added prior to 1889, is significant.

How is it significant?

The former Moorabee Hotel is of local historic and aesthetic significance to the City of Greater Bendigo.

Why is it significant?

The former Moorabee Hotel is aesthetically significant as a key building defining the township of Knowsley. Other buildings that reinforce the town are the store and residence at 4 Knowsley Eppalock Road. Criterion E

The former Moorabee Hotel contains elements characteristic of hotels in the region, such as a gabled roof, with a number of doors opening directly onto the verandah linking extensions to the original building. Although less intact than other hotels in the region, the former Moorabee Hotel is in fair condition. It is historically significant for its association with the subdivision of early pastoral properties following the 1860s Land Acts. Built by David Wise Kelly about 1875, on land that was originally part of the Campaspe Plains Run, the former Moorabee Hotel also has historical significance as an example of hotel ownership by a major brewery, Cohn Bros. in the early part of the twentieth century, and later as a reminder of the influence of hotel licensing requirements for alterations and improvements. Criterion D

The former Moorabee Hotel has historical significance for its association with the members of the Long family who were associated with the Hotel from 1898. Prior to this time, frequent changes of ownership and publicans may reflect changes in social circumstances or financial inability to improve their facilities. Although owned by Cohn Bros. Victoria Brewery of Bendigo from 1909, the Hotel has historic significance for its association with Alice Hunter from 1908. Her daughter Irene Hamilton ran it from the early 1930s until she surrendered the licence in 1958 after the Licensing Court imposed orders for renovations and improvements on the building. Criterion A

Group

Commercial

Category

Hotel