Hotel Advertisement

Here's a bit of fun from the research into the hotels book. Glance at this advert, gain an impression, and then read it, very carefully.
From the Gippsland Times, 21 June 1873.

It is here!

John Benson (left) and Wemyss Struss (centre) take delivery of Ron Martin's scale model of the Shakespeare Hotel.

Tune in to ABC Gippsland just after ten on Friday morning to hear Linda talking about History Week, the Shakespeare model and hotels in general.

Then you can come and visit us between 1pm and 4pm on Sunday 23rd or between 10am and 2.30pm pm on Tuesday 25th to see the model and pick up a book. The book is $9.00, plus $1.20 postage - orders to Box 145 Stratford 3862.

If you have a spare minute, you can call in to the Stratford Library between 10am and midday on Monday 24th for personal tuition on on reading the Gippsland Times online.

History Week will be busy.

Catherine Maguire's side saddle

Today, during the Wellington Shire Heritage Network meeting at Dargo, Stratford and District Historical Society returned Catherine Maguire's sidesaddle to Dargo. It will now be held in the Dargo Museum.

Everyone was most impressed with this museum - more photos as soon as your blogger gets a chance.

Hotels - Now there is a Book

It all started because we were needing a bit more information on the Shakespeare Hotel for the scale model unveiling on the 23rd, for History Week.

We found more than we expected - did you know that Stratford was the first Licensing District in Victoria to successfully vote, in 1886, to reduce the number of local hotels? You didn't? Neither did we.

But we do now - the Shakespeare, two at Nuntin, one at Yeerung, the Sir Walter Scott at Delvine, Gees at Cobannah, one at Iguana Creek and one each at Newry and Heyfield were closed.

So now we have a book, ready to launch on the 23rd. Oh, and yes, we have a comb binder as well. Who knows, we may soon be producing more than just this book.

Although it may be a misnomer to call it a book - it is really 47 pages of notes, the first step in a journey researching our local hotels. And seeking photographs of those where we have none. Does anyone have a photo of the hotel at Yeerung, near the Munro turnoff? It was closed at the same time as the Shakespeare.

We will post details of availability here, closer to the time.

Stratford in 1884

There is a really excellent article HERE, that appeared in the Gippsland Times in 1884. Although it appears the reporter has a little bit of trouble with his points of the compass, so read with care.

There are a few interesting points in there - did we know the architect and builder for the courthouse complex before? It is another J.W.H. Pettit building - he was one of Gippsland's prominent early architects.