Historical information

In 1844 a carpenter called David McLaws secured the lease on the land on the south west
corner of James and Bank Streets. He later converted this to freehold by which time he had erected the Caledonian Inn. This building has been continually licensed since that time , and is believed to be the longest continual license held in Victoria. The dormer windows in the part of the building facing James street hide the fact that there is only a skeleton of rooms that were meant to be built there. They were unfinished because the labourers left town when gold was discovered at Ballarat in 1853. An advertisement for the time says “There were four parlours, a bagatelle room, eight bedrooms, a detached kitchen, stable and kitchen garden”.

Significance

Well known hotel Thought to be the oldest continuously licenced hotel in Victoria

Physical description

Black and white photograph of 2 story building with dormer windows on corner