Maryborough, VictoriaColour photograph of the Supreme Court Hotel, Maryborough. maryborough, supreme court hotel, hotels,

Photograph of the Ballarat school of Mines (Former Circuit Courthouse), Ballarat Gaol and Wesley Church (later Ballarat School of Mines Museum).ballarat, ballarat school of mines, ballarat gaol, ballarat circuit court house, wesley church, supreme court hotel, lydiard street south

Family research queries John and Sarah Watts William and Mary Watts Both families were shoemakers. John and Sarah Watts arrived in Eltham circa 1850. John Watts was recorded in the initial 1858 Eltham Roads District Board rates book living in Little Eltham, also 1859 and 1860. The property then appears to be in the name of Thomas Watts from 1861 to 1863 at least. Thomas was married to Ann. According to a Facebook contact from family researcher Rosie Watts in Queensland, the children of John and Sara were Betsy aka Elizabeth, Ann, Maria, Robert and Sarah (later Jones). Sarah was born 1850, the only child born in Australia. Sarah Watts remained in Eltham and married a man by the name Meadows. On 24 January 1860 John Watts was asaulted by a beligerant drunk (John Castle) whilst sitting at the bar of the Fountain Hotel that evening. Castle without warning grabbed Watts by the throat, pushed him over and kicked him in the head with his heavy boots. Constable Lalor was called and Castle attempted to assault him as well. Watts was helped up, was sick and was taken home by his son and a Mr Wallace. He went to bed. Watts died April 11 and his wfe Sarah advised the Coroner's inquest held April 11 that he had never left his bed from that time. Castle was charged with manslaughter. He was found guilty by jury and sentenced to 18 months hard labour on the roads. John Watts is buried in Eltham Cemetery in an unmarked grave before records were kept. His wife, Sarah later Sarah Meadows (previously Watts, nee Tew) is buried there also along with her daughter Ann Southerly Head (nee Meadows). john watts, william watts, mary watts, john castle, manslaughter, fountain hotel, constable peter lalor, shoemaker, sarah meadows, sarah watts (nee tew)

These images were taken by Geoff Biddington who was highly active in the Ballarat Branch of the National Trust. Twenty two black and white photographic views of Ballarat by Geoff Biddington. 1. Ballarat Mechanics' Institute 2. 18-20 Lyons Street south, Ballarat 3. Licensed grocer (Corner Eyre and Lyons Street South) featuring Ballarat Bertie Sign 4. Cast Iron Gasometer Frames 5. Former Ballarat Supreme Court (Ballarat School of Mines Electrical Engineering 6. Telegraph Station (Castlemaine?) 7. Ballarat Fine Art Gallery (later Art Gallery of Ballarat) 8. Former Ballarat Police Station, Camp Street 9. Former Baptist Church, Dawson Street 10. Craig's Hotel Lamp 11-13. Goller's, Camp Street 14. Old Post Box- Crown on Top 15. Former Ballarat Gaol Gates 16. Golden Point Football Club Rooms, Main Road 17. Ballarat Fire Station, Ballarat East 18. Ballarat Town Hall Tower 19. Ballan Hotel 20. Building on Inglis street, Ballan 21. Ballan News Building (Est 1872) 22. Adam Lindsay Gordon Cottagebiddington, ballarat mechanics' institute, ballaarat mechanics' institute, mechanics institute, gasometer, ballarat police station, police, baptist church, craig's hotel, goller, post box, crown, golden point, ballarat town hall, ballan hotel, adam lindsay gordon cottage, ballarat gaol gates, wrought iron, bluestone, ballarat bertie, orlando, penfolds, signwriting, licensed grover, ballarat bitter, craig's royal hotel lamp, craig's hotel

The hearing of the case of John T. Burns, retired railway employee, of Buckley Street, Essendon v. Philip Cooney, licensed victualler, was concluded in the Supreme Court of Victoria (Bendigo) in June 1921. John sued the defendant for a specific performance of contract regarding the sale of ingoing furniture, etc., of the Limerick Castle Hotel, in Williamson Street, Bendigo. He also claimed the profits of the business from 21 February last to the date of possession. Burns also applied for an injunction restraining the defendant from disposing of the lease, licence and furniture of the hotel and premises to anybody else. The defence was that no agreement had been made between defendant and plaintiff for the sale of the hotel lease, although several attempts had been made to bring them to an agreement. Mr Cooney had authorized Mr. J. F. Kelly to sell the ingoing for £750. Burns had offered £650, but the defendant refused to accept that sum. The jury returned a verdict in favour of plaintiff. Judgment was deferred, pending an appeal, it was again heard by the High Court (Melbourne) and the onto the High Court of Australia (Sydney) on a point of law. The legal principle determined by this appeal is of great importance to buyers and sellers of landed property establishing the rule of law: that a house and land agent cannot, safely sell such property without the authority of the owner in writing, signed by such owner. It appears that the hotel-owner's agents had organised a sale to of the hotel along with furniture etc. to John Burns. The owner of the hotel Philip Cooney then objected to the sale of the furniture, although at some stage John Burns offered him 650 pounds to cover the items. The appeal came up for argument before the High Court at its Melbourne sittings on February 20 1922 the hearing extending over four days. Mr. Charles Gavan Duffy (instructed by Messrs. Quick and Luke Murphy) appeared for the appellant, and Messrs; Cohen and Robertson (instructed by Messrs. Macoboy and Taylor); for the respondent. The last court of appeal, the High Court in Sydney reserved its decision, as follows: The Appeal was allowed, with, costs. Judgment to he entered for the defendant Philip Clooney. The Deposit of £50 to be returned to the defendant.48 Pages - A Court Case involving the Limerick Castle Hotel in Williamson Street, Bendigo - Transcript "on appeal from the Supreme Court of Victoria at Bendigo to the High Court of Australia. 1921 No. 4 between Phillip Cooney (Appellant) and John Thomas Burns (Respondent). Quick and Luke Murphy, Chancery Lane, Solicitors for the Appellant. The Document contains seven sections: 1. Statement of Claim 2. Defenant's request for further particulars under the statement of claim 3. Plaintiff's further particulars 4. Defence 5. Reply 6. Judge's notes of evidence taken at the trial 7. Plaintiff's Exhibits - "A" lease, the Trustees, Executors and Agency Company Limited to Appelant "B" Notice of Application to Transfer Licence of Hotel to Responent, testimonials by Messrs. H. Donovan and J. K. Byrne "C" Assignment of Lease, Appelant to Responentbendigo, limerick castle hotel, john burns, philip cooney