This image is one of a series of photographs taken by Melbourne based photographers Stevenson and McNicoll who visited Bacchus Marsh nearby districts between September and November 1883. The Royal Hotel was built in 1861 and is located on the corner of Main and Young Streets in Bacchus Marsh. The first owner was James Murray and the hotel was first known as the Murray Family Hotel. James Murray died in an accident in 1863 and sometime after this the ownership passed to Richard Manning. From around 1869 it became known as the Royal Hotel. Richard Manning's son Frederick Manning inherited the hotel in 1896. The Manning family owned the hotel until sometime after 1945. In more recent decades it has been owned and operated by a number of different people. The hotel continues to operate as of 2024. This image shows the building in its original structure. In 1888, five years after this image was taken, a second storey was added to the section on Young Street. In this image this section is the single storey section of wall without windows to the right of the picture. Small sepia 'carte de viste' style 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 Royal Hotel seen from the intersection of Main and Young Streets. The diagonal view shows both the Main Street and Young Street sides of the building. It is a two storey brick building with a single storey brick extension on the Young Street frontage. Standing at the corner of the building is a woman and five girls. A deep gutter runs along the Main Street, with a pedestrian crossing ramp. Over this crossing point, there is a large metal frame bearing an ornate lantern. Next to it is a water trough for horses. Several hitching posts can be seen along the footpaths.Printed 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, royal hotel bacchus marsh, manning family bacchus marsh, murray family hotel bacchus marsh