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Former Travellers Rest Inn

Location Midland Highway,, BATESFORD VIC 3221 - Property No B1850 File Number B1850 Level State

[1/1] B1850 Former Travellers Rest

Statement of Significance

The former Traveller's Rest Inn on the Geelong Ballarat highway at Batesford was erected of locally quarried rubble granite in 1849 for licescee John Primrose. This rectangular plan colonial georgian structure of rendered stone, shingle roof and small attic dormers was converted to a residence c. 1865 after Jacob Hammeli, a Swiss vigneron, acquired the inn and surrounding Paradise 4 vineyard.
The traveller's Rest Inn is the oldest surviving building in Batesford and one of the earliest constructed wayside inns in Victoria.
This building, which was strategically located at the ford crossing place of the Moorabool River, served as a wayside inn for only a short time, as the opening of the Ballarat-Geelong railway line in April 1862 deprived the proprietors of most of the overnight custom. For many years the building was associated with the vineyards operated by Jacob Hammeli, a noted distict vigneron.
The Traveller's Rest Inn has been restored after being abandoned for approximately 55 years, 1920-1975. The essential character of this early inn is intact although the exterior plaster has been removed.
Classified: 'Regional' 28/07/1966
Revised: 03/08/1998