Report compiled by five students of Tourism at the University of Ballarat (later Federation University Australia).victorian tourism industry, tourism, alumni, echuca, moama, hopwood's ferry, murray river, goulburn river, campaspe river, gaming, port of echuca, river red gums, wetlands, emmy lou, paddle steamer, star hotel, echuca farmyard, echuca coach house

Original held by Mr. Mike Rosel. Relates to series of images, reg. No P000027, P000028.2, P000029.3, P000030.2, P000031, P000032Photograph shows Port of Echuca from a slight height looking lengthways (north ward) with the steam train carriages and the wharf dominating the view. Murray river on the right, Murray esplanade on left with Star hotel visible and Federal Ale sign of the northern fence beyond the hotel. Sawmill is a commercial concern (steam visible above roof). Steam train marked A2 and 996 on the front of the engine. Various equipment , including manual cranes, visible on and around the wharf. Cargo shed is clearly visible on the wharf.Black and white photograph of the Port of Echuca from a slight height looking lengthways, (north) with steam train and wharf dominating the view. Murray river on the right and Murray Esplanade on left. Cranes and cargo shed clearly visible with other wharf machinery running along the side of the wharf. Star Hotel visible on the far left of the photograph. Saw mill (in background) is still a working operation.On train "A2" and "996". "Federal Ale" sigh on the fence beyond the Star Hotel.port of echuca, sawmill, steam trains, echuca wharf, rosel, mike

The Star Hotel was built in 1863 as a private dwelling, by James Shackell who owned the Bond Store, next door. It was a small house consisting of only a couple of rooms. In 1867 Joseph Salomon bought the house and converted it into a hotel. He built an underground bar to "deal with the peculiarities of the Echuca climate". It was called 'The Shades'. In 1890 Jane Pygall bought the hotel, which was described by the Riverine Herald as having ' three parlours, seven bedrooms, underground bar, kitchen, bathroom, outhouses, small stables, and entrance from two streets." She changed the name to The Esplanade Hotel. In 1890 it was de-licensed along with many hotels in Echuca. It had been a very popular drinking place for all the wharf workers, who continued to to drink illegally in the underground bar. It was then that the escape tunnel to the laneway was built , so the drinkers could escape the Police raids. For many years it was a private dwelling, or an office. In 1973 the City of Echuca bought the Star Hotel and resored it. At the time this photograph was taken it was the main tourist information centre for the Port of Echuca. It now operates as a hotel, serving meals and providing performance opportunities for musicians.The Star Hotel is very significant in Echuca's history due to its proximity to the Echuca Wharf. It was the closest bar to the wharf. Despite Jane Pygall trying to improve the quality of her clientele, the wharf drinkers preferred to drink at The Star Hotel, as the Bridge Hotel catered for more upmarket clientele. After de-licensing in 1897, the workers continued to drink at The Shades Bar and even put in place elaborate strategies to enable them to drink illegally there. It is now a large eating and entertainment site, and the public are still able to visit 'The Shades Bar'.A coloured photograph of the Star Hotel building in Murray Esplanade. The photograph is taken from the east side of the street. The Shackell's Bond Store can be seen on the left of the photograph. Printed on the back are the words, "This paper manufactured by Kodak". Also on the back is green Port of Echuca stamp. Written across the front of the Bond Store are the words 'World In Wax Museum.' On a sign outside the Star Hotel are the words, "Port Information Centre. Ticket Sales. Souvenirs . Star Hotel 1867."port of echuca, star hotel, shackell, james, salomon, joseph, pygall, jane, esplanade hotel, 1863, underground bar, the shades, de-licensing of echuca hotels