Historical information

The Hunt Club is one of the oldest surviving buildings in Deer Park and a rare 19th‑century structure in Melbourne’s west. Its story weaves together hunting culture, early white settlement of the Deer park area, explosives manufacturing, and community arts.

This video features the second celebration of the opening of The Hunt Club and Community Arts Centre on the 26th November 1988.

Significance

A hotel was first located at this site in 1850's. Over the years the hotel has been called various names including the Kororoit Creek Hotel, the Barley Mow Hotel & Plough Hotel. This hotel was described as an old English style wooden building pub consisting of eleven rooms exclusive of a storeroom and kitchen.

The current Hunt Club Hotel building was built in 1886 on the former site of the burnt down ruins of the original hotel. It is one of the few 19th Century buildings remaining in the district.

The hotel was named by the members of the Melbourne Hunt Club who used the hotel as a base for their deer hunts after leasing land nearby of over 300 acres from Sir W. J. Clarke.​

The Hunt Club Hotel operated between 1886 and 1911.​

In 1911, the hotel became a private residence.

In 1921, the Australian Explosives and Chemicals Co. Ltd (later ICI Australia) purchased the Hunt Club building. By the 1950s, the Hunt Club building was converted into a research and staff training centre.

In 1982, the City of Sunshine purchased the Hunt Club building.

In 1985, it officially opened as the Hunt Club Community and Arts Centre.

Physical description

VHS Video Tape

This video has been digitised (No sound)

Inscriptions & markings

Opening Of Hunt Club Saturday Nov 26, 1988