Lawsons Hotel (former)
East Street INVERLEIGH, GOLDEN PLAINS SHIRE
Inverleigh Precinct
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Statement of Significance
What is Significant?
The former Lawson's Hotel, located at the corner of Cambridge and East Street, Inverleigh dates from 1865 when the original hotel, established by William Lawson, was replaced by the present structure. William Lawson had been the blacksmith on the nearby Weatherboard Run. He set up a smithy under a mighty remnant gum tree, a Eucalyptus camaldulensis (River Red Gum) which survives, built a crude structure called the Horseshoe Inn in the 1840s and, by 1852, built the first bridge over the Leigh. He had moved on by 1853 and the business came to be known as Hewitt's Hotel. William Hewitt built the present structure. No architect has yet been associated with the handsome but conservative standard design. Hewitt sold to George Milward who was succeeded by his daughter, Miss Annie Milward, the role of licensee being one of the few respectable occupations for unmarried women. The hotel was de-licensed in 1927 and the building was purchased by Arthur Faulkner in 1929. The Faulkner family occupied the building as a residence until after the Second World War. The 14-roomed building is still occupied intermittently as a residence. The service wing at the rear was demolished in the late 1920s and the L-shaped front verandah is now gone. The most distinctive characteristics of the building are the combination of coursed random rubble construction with finely detailed cement render quoins and the unusual fenestration. Apart from the loss of the service wing and verandah, the main building retains an extremely high degree of integrity and is in fair condition.
How is it Significant?The former Lawson's Hotel, Inverleigh is of historical, social and architectural significance to the State of Victoria.
Why is it Significant?
The former Lawson's Hotel, Inverleigh is of historical significance as one of the oldest continuously occupied sites in the Western District including approximately eighty years as a hotel and with direct connections to the early surrounding squatting runs. Its river-side situation is an excellent example of the typical founding of inns and towns. It is of specific historical significance for its associations with William Lawson, blacksmith, farrier and inn-keeper and with inn-keepers William Hewitt, George Milward and Annie Milward. The Hotel is also of social significance for its service to the local population, providing more than just food and drink but also a centre for community events and functions, and to the passing trade on one of the busiest routes linking the Western District and Geelong. It was the official stop for Cobb and Co. coaches and the horses were housed in its stables. The last licensee being an unmarried woman reinforces the social significance of the hotel. The building is of architectural significance not only for its traditional form and scale but also for the confidence of its conservative style.
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Lawsons Hotel (former) - Historical Australian Themes
The Australian Heritage Commission devised the Australian Historic Themes in 2001. The following themes have influenced the historical development ofthe former Lawson's Hotel, Inverleigh.
3 Developing Local, Regional And National Economies
3.12 Feeding people
3.12.5 Retailing foods and beverages
3.22 Lodging people
3.23 Catering for tourists
8 Developing Australia's Cultural Life
8.4 Eating and drinking
8.14 Living in the county and rural settlements
Lawsons Hotel (former) - Intactness
The verandah and the rear wing, probably timber under a double hipped roof, which incorporated the original kitchens have been removed and some demolition has occured on the north end of the main building but otherwise the main building appears to be substantially intact.
Lawsons Hotel (former) - Integrity
The surviving fabric retains a very high if not excellent degree of integrity with some elements rare survivors, such as the entrance lantern on the eastern elevation. The interiors have not been inspected.
Lawsons Hotel (former) - Physical Description 1
The former Lawson's Hotel, is situated on Allotment 1 of Section 1, at the corner of Cambridge and East Street, Inverleigh. The existing former hotel building is two-storied and built of coursed random rubble. Cement rendered quoins outline the windows and doors. None of the walls are painted. The hipped roof is slate. The traditional hotel canted corner actually opens into the allotment rather than addresses a street corner. A second entrance to the residential section of the hotel opens onto the east side. The mandatory safety light survives above the entrance. A single storey verandah on the east and south elevations has been demolished. The eight-paned casement windows are unusual, with those on the ground floor having fixed top panes. More conventional twelve-paned double hung sashes and French doors are used in less formal locations. A substantial single-storey section at the rear, probably the main hotel kitchen and service area, has been demolished.
Notwithstanding the loss of the verandah and the service wing, the main building retains an excellent integrity and is in good condition.
Lawsons Hotel (former) - Physical Description 2
Extent of Registration: Lawson's Hotel, to the extent of the whole of the main building excluding the interiors, Crown Allotment 1 of Section 1 of the township of Inverleigh.
Heritage Study and Grading
Golden Plains - Golden Plains Shire Heritage Study Phase 2
Author: Heritage Matters P/L
Year: 2009
Grading: State
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INVERLEIGH BRIDGEVictorian Heritage Inventory
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21 COMMON ROAD INVERLEIGHVictorian Heritage Inventory
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Inverleigh BridgeGolden Plains Shire
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