Hotel Beverley 1885, 1938
The evolution of the building from the Federation stye Railway Hotel (1885-1890s) to the Hotel Beverley, a modern art deco makeover in 1937, is an example of building practice during the post-depression years when existing structures, particularly commercial buildings, were modernised and extended for contemporary use.
The hotel was prosperous in the 1960s when the licensee, Mrs Vladich refused room bookings over the Christmas period to give herself and her staff a break from the relentless work the local Police Constable, responding to a complaint, explained that “her licence obliged her to accept bookings from the travelling public”.
Hotel Beverley has been a licensed premise since 1885, where social interaction, refreshment, accommodation and entertainment have been provided for the local community and the travelling public.
The phases of development of Hotel Beverley reflect the history and development of the State and region: the original construction in 1885 when the Eastern Railway was extended to Beverley; the 1890 additions to cater for increased traffic after the Great Southern line was opened, with further improvements in the 1890s for the gold boom traffic from Albany; and the extensive refurbishment in 1938 during the period of optimism and economic upturn at the end of the Depression.
In 1926, George Franklin Wyatt and his wife Barbara Helen Wyatt acquired the freehold and managed the place themselves. In 1938, they engaged architect William Garnsworthy Bennett to modernise the Hotel with an ‘Art Deco’ makeover. It was at this time the name of the place changed from Railway Hotel to Hotel Beverley.
Bennett had designed the 1938 Beverley Town Hall, located diagonally opposite the hotel, in the Inter-War Functionalist style. It was completed immediately prior to work starting on the refurbishment of the Hotel.
The hotel has changed hands many times since then.
Hotel Beverley has landmark value in Beverley and contributes to the historic streetscape of Inter-War style buildings in Vincent Street.
The Hotel Beverley is recognised as a place of State significance on the Western Australian Heritage Council’s Register of Heritage Places.
The hotel was prosperous in the 1960s when the licensee, Mrs Vladich refused room bookings over the Christmas period to give herself and her staff a break from the relentless work the local Police Constable, responding to a complaint, explained that “her licence obliged her to accept bookings from the travelling public”.
Hotel Beverley has been a licensed premise since 1885, where social interaction, refreshment, accommodation and entertainment have been provided for the local community and the travelling public.
The phases of development of Hotel Beverley reflect the history and development of the State and region: the original construction in 1885 when the Eastern Railway was extended to Beverley; the 1890 additions to cater for increased traffic after the Great Southern line was opened, with further improvements in the 1890s for the gold boom traffic from Albany; and the extensive refurbishment in 1938 during the period of optimism and economic upturn at the end of the Depression.
In 1926, George Franklin Wyatt and his wife Barbara Helen Wyatt acquired the freehold and managed the place themselves. In 1938, they engaged architect William Garnsworthy Bennett to modernise the Hotel with an ‘Art Deco’ makeover. It was at this time the name of the place changed from Railway Hotel to Hotel Beverley.
Bennett had designed the 1938 Beverley Town Hall, located diagonally opposite the hotel, in the Inter-War Functionalist style. It was completed immediately prior to work starting on the refurbishment of the Hotel.
The hotel has changed hands many times since then.
Hotel Beverley has landmark value in Beverley and contributes to the historic streetscape of Inter-War style buildings in Vincent Street.
The Hotel Beverley is recognised as a place of State significance on the Western Australian Heritage Council’s Register of Heritage Places.