Photograph, Court House Hotel Main Street Bacchus Marsh 1883

Historical information

This building on the corner of Court House Place and Main Street Bacchus Marsh was a licensed hotel since 1864. Prior to 1864 the building was in use as a saddlery business, established by Joseph Purday and Alfred Smith. In 1864, Purday and Alfred Tanner converted the shop to a hotel. Tanner, followed by his wife Ann, were licensees until 1892. The hotel signage above the door features the Prince of Wales feathers, an acknowledgement of the Prince of Wales Volunteer Light Horse Werribee unit which used the hotel for their meetings. In 1911 the single-storey hotel was demolished and a two-storey brick hotel was built.
The identities of the five men and one woman in the photo are not known. The woman at the left of the group is possibly Ann Tanner who was the licensee around the time this photograph was taken.

Physical description

Small sepia unframed photograph on card with gold border framing photograph. Housed in the album, 'Photographs of Bacchus Marsh and District in 1883 by Stevenson and McNicoll'. A group of five men and one woman can be seen standing in front of the Court House Hotel building, Main Street Bacchus Marsh. A large ornate sign around the roofline bears the words “Courthouse Hotel”. Above the door a sign featuring the Prince of Wales feathers also has the name “Ann Tanner.” One of the men is displaying a document which apparently is of some importance, now lost.

Inscriptions & markings

On the front: Stevenson & McNicoll. Photo. 108 Elizabeth St. Melbourne. COPIES CAN BE OBTAINED AT ANY TIME.
On the back: LIGHT & TRUTH inscribed on a banner surmounted by a representation of the rising sun.
Copies of this Portrait can be had at any time by sending the Name and Post Office Money Order or Stamps for the amount of order to STEVENSON & McNICOLL LATE BENSON & STEVENSON, Photographers. 108 Elizabeth Street, MELBOURNE.

References

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