Historical information

These dinner plates were used at the Criterion Hotel in Kepler Street, Warrnambool,

about the mid 1900s. The Criterion Hotel was opened in 1872 with the first licensee,

John Tate. The Humm family was associated with the hotel from the 1880s to 1919

and members of the McGennan family were licensees and owners of the hotel for

over 50 years in the 20th century. The hotel closed in 2008 and the building was

demolished in 2013.

Significance

These plates are of great interest as excellent examples of the dinner plates used at the

Warrnambool Criterion Hotel in the mid 20th century. The Criterion Hotel was a

Warrnambool landmark for over 130 years.

Physical description

These are two white vitrified china plates. One is slightly smaller than the other but

they are both dinner –plate size and made for hotel use. They are circular in shape

with a wide outer band and the base or body of the plates slightly recessed. The name

of the hotel is printed in red on the side of the plates in an oval decorative pattern.

Details of the manufacturer and supplier are printed on the bottom of the plates. There

are few stains or markings on the plates, suggesting they have been little used

Inscriptions & markings

‘Criterion Hotel Warrnambool’

‘Globe Pottery Co. Ltd. Cobridge England Vitrified’

‘John Dynon & Sons Melbourne’