Historical information

This fragment is a piece of a cup that came from the Criterion Hotel in Warrnambool. This hotel, on the western side of Kepler Street near Lava Street, Warrnambool, was opened in 1872 with John Tate as the first licensee. Two notable families associated with the Criterion Hotel were the Humm family, (late 19th and early 20th centuries) and the McGennan family ( from the late 1920s on) The name on the fragment is that of Theresa Lynch who was the licensee of the hotel from 1919 to 1926 and the owner for most of that time. The hotel was closed in 2008 and, following a fire, the building was demolished in 2013.

Significance

This fragment is of interest as it is one of the few items we have that date from the time of Theresa Lynch and the Criterion Hotel.

Physical description

This is a curved piece, one half of a white china cup. The fragment has been broken and mended. The fragment has imprinted on it in a red circle the name of a Warrnambool hotel and its proprietor.

Inscriptions & markings

‘Lynch’s Criterion Hotel Warrnambool’