Former Bowling Green Hotel, Sandy Bay

This lovely building was constructed by one William Turner in 1845. Turner was an enterprising man who spared no expense in having his hotel furnished and decorated with a style of opulence and elegance, providing all the requirements of accommodation for both man and horse.

The Colonial Times newspaper of the time stated that the property was “without exception, the most elegantly fitted out house of any we have yet seen in the Colony” Turner went on to apply for a license to sell wine, spirits and beer at his establishment and his application was fully supported by many of the most influential and respected citizens in town. Advertisements from the time noted that the hotel had all the comforts of a private residence including spacious sitting rooms and large, airy bedrooms.

Whilst the hotel was undoubtedly a classy establishment, a unique part of the property was a square bowling green that Turner laid down at the rear of the hotel, giving the hotel its name, The Bowling Green Hotel. The sides of the bowling green measured over 120 ft. The grounds were constructed on a slope so the lower part was raised by means of brick arches to form accurately levelled playing surface which was said to be as smooth and as soft as velvet. Participants were able to enjoy river views and mountain views of the finest descriptions whilst playing their games.

In October 1846, Turner formed the first bowling club in Australia which included army officers from the nearby Anglesea Barracks. The military men who had come out from Britain had provided a superior understanding and knowledge of the game but local players slowly began to acquire the required skills. The bowling green was reserved for members on Wednesdays and Fridays but was made available to the public at other times during the week. Newspaper reports noted that on a fine summer evening, there is nothing more pleasant than a gentle & friendly game of bowls to help the participants unwind after a day’s labour.

In 1852, there was a great match between a military team and a team of local bowlers. Over 500 spectators paid admission to the green to witness a surprise victory for the locals.

Despite his huge investment in the property and undoubted success as a businessman, Turner decided to return to England and in 1853, he sold the hotel and the bowling green for 3,500 pounds. The new owners decided not to keep the license as a public house and the bowling green was subsequently closed down and the area occupied by the bowling green was subsequently built upon over the years.

The former Bowling Green Hotel building survives to this day and retains much of its original appearance and appears to be utilised today as private residences. It is still a significant part of the Sandy Bay streetscape and is truly a significant historic building in the Sandy Bay area.

Main Text & Information Source –

“The Story of Sandy Bay – Street By Street” – Donald Howatson 2016

Dunalley Hotel

The story of the Dunalley Hotel is forever linked to two pioneer families who basically owned the establishment for over 80 years over several generations.

John Clark appears to have arrived in Van Diemens Land around 1831 after being convicted for a minor affray charge in Suffolk, England, He received a pardon shortly after his arrival in the colony and took up farming in the Bream Creek area.

George Scrimger, a native of Inverness, arrived in the area around 1855 and gained employment with John Clark as a farm labourer. George would go on to marry John Clark’s daughter, Jane. John Clark appears to have been a shrewd businessman and in 1857, he purchased 30 acres of land through which the future Denison Canal would eventually be constructed. 

In 1862, his son on law, George Scrimger was granted a liquor license for the property. In those days, with little heed being paid to health or building concerns, George was probably running his business from a small hut. John Clark undoubtedly saw the commercial possibilities of George’s license and by 1866, he had invested in the venture and had constructed a single storey hotel made from local bricks on its present site.

The family owned and operated the hotel through to September 1891 when the building was destroyed by fire after strong winds blew sparks under the roofing iron and shingles under the roofing iron caught alight, razing the building. The noted Hobart architect, Robert Huckson, was commissioned to design a replacement hotel, which was ultimately built on the original foundations, utilizing the original old cellar. Builder Alfred Dorman was employed to build the new hotel and it was much larger than the original featuring 14 rooms across two storeys.

At the time, a mysterious mortgage seemed to hang over the establishment and consequently, the hotel was auctioned at the end of 1892 when it became the property of a Queensland investor, James Robertson. Strangely, the builder of the new building, Alfred Dorman, became the new licensee. 

It was to be a quarter of a century before the hotel would return to the control of the Clark/ Scrimger family when in 1918/19, two of George Scrimger’s daughters, Edith & Eva made a financial arrangement to purchase the hotel from the Drake Estate. They would continue to operate the hotel for the next 28 years.  

Their nephew, Roy would eventually inherit the pub from his aunts in 1946. Roy would go on to lease out the pub to various licensees until 1969 when the pub was sold to the Cameron family. The pub was rebuilt to its present state during the late 1980’s/early 1990’s.

The pub continues to operate to this day and is well known for its fine food and character. It’s well worth a visit to Dunalley for a meal & refreshing beverage at the Dunalley Hotel!!!!!

Main Text & Information Source –

“Dunalley Hotel, 1866..and the Township of 1857” – Walter B Pridmore

(Available to purchase from the hotel)

Former Beach Tavern, Sandy Bay

The former Beach Tavern in Sandy Bay has the look of a typical early colonial era roadside inn, of which there are many scattered across Tasmania. This one, which still stands on Sandy Bay Road was first licensed as an Inn by Frederick Lipscombe in 1843.

Advertisements from the time declared that pleasure grounds and tea gardens were to be laid out on the site, all for local citizens to be able to enjoy themselves after completing their labours and toils at the end of the day.

It was recorded that the first ever game of lawn bowls to be played in Tasmania actually took place at the Beach Tavern in 1845 when Frederick Lipscombe was narrowly defeated by a Mr T Burgess.

The Beach Tavern was sold in 1863 and the new owner decided to close the tavern and the building became a private residence. The building is now classified and registered by the National Trust and has been converted into two tourist apartments but still maintains its look in a prominent area of Sandy Bay.

Main Text & Information Source – 

“The Story Of Sandy Bay – Street By Street” – Donald Howatson 2016

Theatre Royal Hotel, Hobart

Next door to Australia's oldest working theatre, the Theatre Royal built in 1837, there has always been a watering hole. In fact, for most of the 19th century, the Theatre Royal was surrounded by drinking establishments.
On what is now a construction site for the University of Tasmania's new arts precinct was once the Shakespeare Hotel, built in the 1830s. The Shakespeare was demolished in 1970.

On the other side, stands the Theatre Royal Hotel which dates back to the early 1830’s.  The hotel has gone through many names and looks, according to Dr Stefan Petrow from the Department of History and Classics at the University of Tasmania. "There has always been a pub on this site with an interesting mixture of patrons," he said.

Built in the area known as Wapping, many early Hobartians regarded the location as a den of iniquity. Prostitutes, seamen and whalers were just some of the characters who frequented the various establishments surrounding the theatre. "The Wapping old wharf area had about 13 pubs up until about 1870," Dr Petrow said.

The only surviving pub of that time is the Theatre Royal Hotel. Originally called The Dolphin Inn, it had a reputation for being cosmopolitan. "The Dolphin really only lasted until 1834 and then it had a new name — the Anthony Dorchester Butt," Dr Petrow said. It is believed the name came from a hotel on the east coast of England. "It was really roaring in the 1850s," Dr Petrow said, adding that the establishment had a reputation for selling some of the best liquor in Hobart Town.

In 1856, the building was sold to an ex-policeman by the name of George Brown who was accused of being an adulterer and believed by some to be unfit as a licensee. "He made extensive improvements to the old Dolphin which was in a very dilapidated condition," Dr Petrow said. Brown changed the name of the establishment and decorated the pub in a London style. Reviews from the time claim the pub was the snuggest house in town, particularly with its emphasis on entertainment. The assessment proved timely as the Theatre Royal began to boom, attracting some of the most popular names in the theatrical world, who usually ended up at the bar next door following their performance.

The next major change for the pub occurred in 1883 when the establishment was taken over by William Langford. By 1888, Langford had changed its name to the Theatre Royal Pub and redecorated it in a Melbourne style to keep up with the trends in interior design.

By 1904 ownership had once again changed, with the building being purchased by George Adams of Tattersalls fame. Despite the rich history of the location, Adams decided to demolish the old pub and build something new which was when the current building came into being.

A report from The Mercury newspaper captured the scene on the last day of the old pub's existence. "The large tribe of bootless Wapping youngsters with bags, old baskets and old crocs storming the place like flies about a carcass picking up and making off with the caged shingles falling from the roof, other bits of woodwork, unconsidered trifles and rubbish." The new hotel was constructed in an Elizabethan style and retained the same name. Adams tried to keep the snug atmosphere, making quite an impression according to accounts of the period.

By 1915, the area once known as Wapping had mostly disappeared and the Theatre Royal Pub entered a new period under the management of Richard Jackman, who was described as a man with a cheery disposition and a jovial approach to his customers. Boxing in the pub became commonplace as did betting of questionable legality.

The ownership of the Theatre Royal Hotel continued to change throughout the 20th century and by 2016 The University of Tasmania had bought the Theatre Royal Hotel for $1.7 million with a view to creating a future social hub for its growing inner-city campus and as such, the Theatre Royal Hotel’s future has been secured and it will continue to serve the thirsty patrons of Hobart for years to come.

Main Text & Information Source – 

www.abc.net.au website