Historical information

The Terminus Hotel, Wodonga was built by James Thompson Hatch in 1873, the same year the railway reached Wodonga from Melbourne. It was named due to its close proximity to the railway terminus. It was sold to Messrs George Day and Kenneth McLennan of Albury. It was first licenced to J.G. Morton in January 1874.
Annie Allen, from Ireland, took over as licensee of the hotel containing 14 rooms in 1879, after she and her husband, George James Allen, purchased it. In 1887 they added a new wing on the south boundary of the property next to Peter McLean’s store at 81 Sydney Road. The architects for the new wing were Gordon and Gordon. A billiard room, a dining room, and 18 other rooms were added on the vacant block of land between the Hotel and the Bank of Victoria. A balcony 6 feet wide was added on the north side. Included in the plans was the latest patent elevator, later known as a dumb waiter.
Allen died in 1889 aged 52, and Annie Allen continued to run the Terminus. She later married John G. Haldon and was licensee of the hotel until December 1898 when the licence was transferred to William Carkeek. Carkeek, from Cornwall, arrived in the colony around 1860 and is considered one of the founders of Tallangatta. In November 1903, the license was transferred to Daniel Crawford, then in 1906 it was transferred to Mr Stephen Carkeek.
In 1916 it passed into the hands of Mr H. W. Allen of Rutherglen, son of Mr George James Allen.

On 1st June 1998 the Terminus Hotel was destroyed by fire. Estimates of damage range from between a conservative $750,000 to as high as $2 million. The remains of the building were demolished in 1999.

Significance

The Terminus Hotel was one of the earliest hotels in Wodonga with clear links to the establishment of the railway line. It was an important business and meeting place for social gatherings.

Physical description

In 1879, the Terminus Hotel was purchased by Annie and George Allen. The hotel was advertised as a two storey brick building with bar, large dining and four rooms on the ground floor, all and commodious cellar. Upstairs a large parlour and 13 bedrooms. There was also a four-roomed weatherboard cottage, a blacksmith's shop and other buildings.

The Allens had about 20 years of ownership, with Annie continuing to hold the licence under her new married name of Annie Haldon after George had died in 1889. In 1888, the Allens undertook extensive additions and renovations. Annie remained as the proprietor of the building until her death in 1904, but the business was leased to William Carkeek in December 1898. The building was eventually auctioned as part of the finalising of Annie's estate in 1909.