Freemasons Hotel 1886, 1908, 1952, 2018
Originally a single storey, Freemasons Hotel was built in 1886 for Henry Hawkins Sewell. Only a year later, with the prosperity attributed to the advent of the railway, five more rooms were added. In 1908 Joe Newby acquired the hotel, and after partial demolition of the original hotel building, continued trading, and built the new two-storey hotel in the fashionable Federation Filigree architectural style.
In 1952 the remains of the oldest sections of the building were removed and structural changes were made to the saloon bar in 1958.
In 1965, as a Statewide requirement, the Beverley Shire Council ordered veranda post supports along the street edges in Vincent Street, and for this property, also Forrest Street, be removed.
The aesthetic of the 1907 hotel’s extensive decorative filigree of the balcony and valance detailing was significantly impacted by the removal of the extensive ground floor and first floor verandas that wrapped the corner and both street frontages.
In 2018 the beer garden was upgraded and significant internal renovations took place.
In 1952 the remains of the oldest sections of the building were removed and structural changes were made to the saloon bar in 1958.
In 1965, as a Statewide requirement, the Beverley Shire Council ordered veranda post supports along the street edges in Vincent Street, and for this property, also Forrest Street, be removed.
The aesthetic of the 1907 hotel’s extensive decorative filigree of the balcony and valance detailing was significantly impacted by the removal of the extensive ground floor and first floor verandas that wrapped the corner and both street frontages.
In 2018 the beer garden was upgraded and significant internal renovations took place.