The Border Inn Hotel is located at 141 Main Street Bacchus Marsh. It was established in 1850 and is still operating. It is one of the oldest hotels in Victoria. The original building was first constructed by John Pilmer who came from the border district of Scotland. The hotel has seen major additions and some changes in design over its more than 175 year history. This image dates from around the late 1890s or early 1900s. In 1904 a second storey was constructed above the west wing (right side of picture). The absence of this feature indicates this image was made prior to 1904. A historical and architectural assessment of the Border Inn was included in the 1994-1995 Bacchus Marsh Heritage study by Richard Peterson and Daniel Catrice. A link to this document provided by Heritage Victoria is available from the references section below.Digital file copied and modified from a digital file held by the State Library of Victoria. Original image was made using a glass negative. BMDHS Location: AR/R4/S1-4 Photo Album - Hotels and Accomodationhotels bacchus marsh, border inn hotel bacchus marsh

The Border Inn located on the corner of Main Street and Graham Street Bacchus Marsh opened in 1851 making it a very early hotel in Victoria. It was built and owned by John Pilmer. The first licensee was James Watt. The building has been added to and changed many times. It was originally a single storey building. A second storey was added in 1863 by John Pilmer. In 1866 the hotel was purchased by Edward Jones. The Jones family owned and operated the hotel until 1939. Additional second storey sections were added in 1883, 1904 and 1936. For a number of years the Border Inn was a stopping post for coaching services between Melbourne and Ballarat. The first licensee of the hotel James Watt was among the first in Victoria to offer a regular coaching service and his hotel was used for overnight accommodation by coach travellers. At the time this picture was taken coach services were still operating between Bacchus Marsh and other locations. The coach in this picture is possibly one of those coaches.This building has been documented as of state significance by Richard Peterson and Daniel Catrice in their 1995 heritage study for the then Shire of Bacchus Marsh. Their assessment of the heritage significance of the building was: "The Border Inn is of state historical significance as a pioneering pre-gold rush building, on the route to the Ballarat goldfields. It is the representative-embodiment of several historical periods and their way of life. It demonstrates a complex changing sequence of patterns of occupancy and architectural styles. Its development at this location, demonstrates the effect of a social movement, the gold rush, as a transport stopover.It is also historically significant for its association with the first rural public transport in Victoria. Locally, the hotel is significance for its association with the first meeting of municipal government, and also for its social significance as a traditional community, visitor focus and meeting place".Small sepia unframed photograph on card with gold border framing photograph. Housed in the album, 'Photographs of Bacchus Marsh and District in 1883 by Stevenson and McNicoll'. The image shows the Border Inn Hotel at an angle depicting the front of the building facing directly to the camera. It is a two storey brick building, with one-story additions at either end. Five chimneys can be seen extending from the building. The bottom storey has a verandah extending onto the footpath. A covered wagon, probably a coach, with four horses in harness is in front of the building. There are several people in the image. Two people are sitting on the driver’s seat of the wagon. Another man is standing holding the reins of the horses. At his feet is a dog. Behind them are two male adults. One is holding a small child. A young boy stands beside him.On the front: Stevenson & McNicoll. Photo. 108 Elizabeth St. Melbourne. COPIES CAN BE OBTAINED AT ANY TIME. On the back: LIGHT & TRUTH inscribed on a banner surmounted by a representation of the rising sun. Copies of this Portrait can be had at any time by sending the Name and Post Office Money Order or Stamps for the amount of order to STEVENSON & McNICOLL LATE BENSON & STEVENSON, Photographers. 108 Elizabeth Street, MELBOURNE. stevenson and mcnicoll 1883 photographs of bacchus marsh and district, hotels bacchus marsh, border inn hotel bacchus marsh, carriages and coaches, stagecoaches, james watt bacchus marsh, john pilmer bacchus marsh, edward jones family bacchus marsh

A football trophy sponsored by a Mr W. H. Moore of the Border Inn Hotel Bacchus Marsh presented to the champion player for the Bacchus Marsh Club, R. (Ron) Durham. Presented in 1939.Silver plated football trophy.W. H. Moore Cup Bacchus Marsh FC won by R. Durhamaustralian rules football, bacchus marsh football club, ron durham australian rules football player

This image shows part of a street procession moving along Main Street Bacchus Marsh near the Hall of Commerce building and the Border Inn Hotel. In the foreground is a man standing on a horse drawn Jinker. The style of people's clothing in the picture suggests it is from around the 1890s or 1900s. The event associated with the street parade is not known. It is possibly part of the Bacchus Marsh branch of the Australian Natives Association (A.N.A,) annual sports festival which was held over the Easter period. Newspaper reports in the Bacchus Marsh Express in the 1900s report details of the various floats, themes and characters in the A.N.A annual sports event and they align to some degree with the people and activities in this image, and other similar images of street parades in Bacchus Marsh at this time.One digital file acquired from State Library of Victoria. One print copy for BMDHS collection reproduced from digital file. BMDHS Location: Photo Album Entertainment and Recreation parades and processions, events and activities, bacchus marsh and district images held by state library of victoria