Argyle Arms Hotel
235 Gray Street HAMILTON, Southern Grampians Shire
Gray St Commercial Precinct Hamilton
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Statement of Significance
SIGNIFICANCE: »One of the oldest hotels in Hamilton and with a stylish new facade from the 1930s, reworked by the important Melbourne architects, Seabrook & Fildes. Key position at entrance to Gray Street commercial area.
STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE
Argyle Arms Hotel
235 Gray Street
This building has local historic and architectural significance as a rare surviving 1860s hotel, inns being amongst the earliest structures erected in the Grange township which predated the founding of the Hamilton municipality. The Argyle Arms Hotel, which dates from 1864, ([i]) was one of a number of new hotels opened in Gray Street, the commercial and service centre, in that decade. During the 1860s both churches and hotels multiplied rapidly in this period of consolidation and growth. ([ii]) During the shearers' strikes of the late 1880s, there was a camp of union men opposite the Argyle Arms Hotel, who gave the `scabs' who came into Hamilton a hard time. ([iii])
In the early twentieth century this hotel was completely modernised with a new facade designed by the leading Melbourne architects, Seabrook and Fildes. The builder for the renovation was Reg Williams. ([iv]) The firm renovated the George and Grand Central Hotels as well but the Argyle Arms was the most stylish and is the best preserved. The firm designed and remodelled many other significant buildings in Gray Street. The Argyle Arms survives significantly intact and in excellent condition. It is a key element in the streetscape being at the entrance to the Gray Street commercial area.
[i] Hamilton Spectator, 17 September 1864; Garden, p 83.
[ii] Ibid., and pp 147, 198.
[iii] Hamilton Spectator, 31 July 1888.
[iv] The precise date in the 1930s is not known. The attribution to Seabrook and Fildes is by Mrs Peg Christie, daughter of Reg Williams.
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Argyle Arms Hotel - Physical Description 1
MATERIALS:
Roof: »/
Walls: »rendered brick
Dressings: »cement render
Plinth: »glazed tiles
Windows: »fixed plate glass
Paving: »red brick
Other: »terrazzo stepsmetal awning stainless steel doorsArgyle Arms Hotel - Physical Description 2
NOTABLE FEATURES:»stainless steel trimmings, glazed tiles on walls and lettering on awning
Argyle Arms Hotel - Integrity
INTEGRITY: E
CONDITION: E
Argyle Arms Hotel - Historical Australian Themes
ASSOCIATED HISTORIC THEMES
Evolution Of The Town: 1860s
Pastoral Industry: Shearers
Heritage Study and Grading
Southern Grampians - City of Hamilton Conservation Study
Author: Timothy Hubbard with Carlotta Kellaway & Michael Looker (plus Francis Punch)
Year: 1991
Grading: B
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MECHANICS INSTITUTEVictorian Heritage Register H2171
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HAMILTON BOTANIC GARDENSVictorian Heritage Register H2185
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FORMER HAMILTON TUBERCULOSIS CHALETVictorian Heritage Register H1066
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"1890"Yarra City
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"AMF Officers" ShedMoorabool Shire
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"AQUA PROFONDA" SIGN, FITZROY POOLVictorian Heritage Register H1687
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'CARINYA' LADSONS STOREVictorian Heritage Register H0568
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1 Alexander StreetYarra City
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1 Botherambo StreetYarra City
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