Batmans' Hill Hotel, 66-70 Spencer Street, Melbourne
Butler, Graeme1985
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Total copies: 1
Title:
Batmans' Hill Hotel, 66-70 Spencer Street, Melbourne
Creator:
Date of work:
1985
Reference number:
BIF-CITY 108967
Level of description:
Item from Collection: Heritage Collection (HC)
Type of materials:
Graphic materialsTextual material
Part of:
Series: Central City (BIF-CITY)
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UnrestrictedOpen access.
Use restrictions:
UnrestrictedPlease contact City of Melbourne Libraries about obtaining permission to reproduce images.
General notes:
RESEARCH ADDED BY GRAEME BUTLER 2023:__________________________________________________DATE: 1926-1928;ASSOCIATIONS: Riley, Mrs A A;DESIGNER: Greenwood Bradbury & Allen;BUILDER: Andrew, GeorgePeriod: Inter-War.GRAEME BUTLER & ASSOCIATES 2011, CENTRAL CITY (HODDLE GRID) HERITAGE REVIEWStatement of SignificanceWhat is significant?The first Batman's Hotel operated here in the 1860s to be replaced by the Batman's Hill Hotel in the 1870s. Additions were made in 1875 and 1882 for HN Proctor, one of the long-term licensees.Inter-war renovation and additions to the Victorian-era three-storey brick Batman's Hill Hotel were constructed 1926-8 at an estimated cost of ₤11,000 by Ivanhoe builder, George Andrew. The client was Mrs A A Riley and the design from architects and engineers Greenwood Bradley & Allen working in association with hotel specialist architects, Sydney Smith & Ogg. The decision to add to the old hotel rather than redevelop the site was based on it remarkable sound condition. Apart from the façade design every effort was made to complement the existing building during the project.The first design proposed for the new façade and two additional floors had Smith & Ogg's characteristic Edwardian-Baroque character but a change in direction saw a more sober Greek revival façade designed solely by Greenwood Bradley & Allen. Additions were made at the rear of the hotel on all existing levels and the two added floors and roof level on the front existing wing followed the existing T-Shape plan which allowed for light courts on both sides of bedrooms either side of a central passage. Because the partitions were brick throughout, the existing Baltic pine floors were able to be retained and extended despite regulations requiring fire proof constructionNot long after completion of the additions, the licensee Ada Alberta Riley sought and won a divorce from Harold Lytton Riley, barman, on the ground of misconduct, one of many events that surrounded life at the hotel. As had been the case since the 1860s the hotel continued to attract a variety of persons, some notorious,, and various social and sporting groups.The cement rendered Batman's Hill Hotel façade is parapeted with a classical cornice and central raised pediment in the Greek Revival manner, complete with acroteria and flagpole (removed). Reeded pilasters rise from the ground level podium to allow for window strips between, with matching timber-framed windows separated by cemented spandrels (windows replaced with similar joinery sections, fine balustrading added since). At the façade centre is a series of balconies, some with cemented balustrading and one with a wrought-iron Regency style balconette at the second floor level. The ground level has changed but when built it was a series of stout panelled timber doors with fine-axed basalt thresholds leading into the dining room, public and saloon bars. Parts of the cast cement colonettes and brick dadoes remain. A metal clad cantilevering awning, with ornamented soffit, was erected over the street and held the hotel's name and some Greek revival ornamentation (replaced in 1973).The hotel complements the Greek revival characteristics of the former bank at the Collins St corner and is one of a series of Victorian, Edwardian-era and inter-war hotels along Spencer and Flinders Streets fed by river and railway traffic.How is it significant?Batman's Hill Hotel is significant historically, socially and aesthetically to the Melbourne Capital City Zone.Why is it significant?Batman's Hill Hotel is significant historically and socially as a well-preserved long-term hotel use, possessing elements from the Victorian-era to the inter-war period, and has acted as social gathering place since its inception.Aesthetically it s a well-preserved and good example of the Greek revival style as applied to a hotel building. The hotel complements the Greek revival characteristics of the former bank at the Collins St corner and is one of a series of Victorian, Edwardian-era and inter-war hotels along Spencer and Flinders Streets fed by river and railway traffic. ..GRAEME BUTLER 1985 MELBOURNE CENTRAL ACTIVITIES DISTRICT CONSERVATION STUDYBUILDING IDENTIFICATION FORM cites Lawrie Wilson & Associates, 1977_________________________________________Lawrie Wilson & Associates, 1977. Historic Buildings Preservation Council Report on CBD Block No 6 Dec 1977(85): page 250 - 1877 plan shows Proctor's Hotel 2 storey, Mahlstedt & Gee, 1888 Batman's Hill Hotel part 2 storey complex, D1889 BHH with Harold Riley, M1905-6 BHH 2 storey, M1923- 3 storey BHH, RB1925 H McKay owner, a riley occ, brick hotel 3 floors, RB1929 A Riley owner-occupier brick hotel 5 floors; Not recommended Victorian Heritage Register;_________________________________________MCC i-Heritage: Central Activities District Conservation Study - Graeme Butler, 1984 Building Identification Form (BIF): Notable features include shop verandah. Alterations / Recommendations: Canopy reclad (sympathetic - reinstate original design), openings altered at ground level (inappropriate - reinstate original design or sympathetic alternative)._________________________________________Buchett index, MCC Building Permit Applications:1866, 1328 additions to Batman's Hill Hotel6 September 1926 8915 (30 March 1927 application for verandah)MCC Building Permit Application 8915 6 Sep 1926_________________________________________Australian Architectural Index (AAI):Tenders wanted - additions to Batman'sHotel, Spencer St., Melbourne.Argus 12.7.1875, p 3Twentyman and Askew.Tenders wanted for additions to hotel for H. Proctor.Argus 11.1.1882, p 3_________________________________________NEWSPAPERS (TROVE)The Argus 31/7/1926Greenwood Bradbury & Allen tenders for 2 storey additions and alterations to BHH (added 2 floors)`The Argus':Friday 4 October 1867A COOL CUSTOMER.-Robert Edwards was charged with being illegally on the premises of Mr. Hill, of Batman's Hotel, Spencer street. The prisoner wont into the hotel, and, seeing no one in the bar, proceeded to help himself to some liquor, but was caught in the act and given into custody. He was sentenced to three months' imprisonment.1 June 1927`WORKMAN INJURED.Brick Falls From Building.While working on the alterations to the Batman Hill Hotel, Spencer street. West Melbourne, yesterday morning, Willara Thurgood, aged 43 years, of Munster street North Melbourne, was struck on the head by a brick, which fell from the scaffolding Thurgood w as taken to the Melbourne Hospital and admitted, suffering from a depressed fracture of the skull'Saturday 1 September 1928Melbourne Walking and Touring Club, meet there ..`Formerly the club took part in track walking, but today but today it exists to encourage road walking' Bogong High Plains, Werribee Gorge etc.Thursday 4 September 1930Divorce decrees granted:Ada Alberta Riley, aged 41 years, of Batman's Hill Hotel Spencer «street, Melbourne, from Harold Lytton Riley, aged 40 years, of Fry street, Chatswood, Sydney, barman, on the ground of misconduct. The marriage took place on September 14, 1914, at Clifton Hill.Thursday 18 October 1934GRENADIER GUARDSj Plans for Reception of Band…On Monday morning the band will leave the Batman Hill Hotel at 8 a.m., In 10 motor-cars for Wangaratta, to give a performance at 1 p.m., returning to Melbourne for a performance in the King's Theatre that evening. The distance travelled by the band that day will be 648 miles. In all 11 country centres will be ' visited by the band.'The Mercury (Hobart, Tas. : 1860-1954)Thursday 28 February 1935STATES JOIN IN METHODIST CENTENARY CELEBRATION MELBOURNE… it is certain that Methodism was introduced into Victoria from Tasmania shortly after the first settlers arrived, when a service was conducted by a Tasmanian minister of that denomination In a cottage somewhere about the site of the present Batman's Hill Hotel in Spencer Street.`The Argus':Saturday 10 February 1940A complimentary dinner to Major W. E. Murrell and Lieutenant J. W. Read, Corps Signals, 2nd A.I.F., was given by the former members of the 1st A.I.F. attached to the central staff of the Postmaster General's Department. The dinner was hold last night at the Batman Hill Hotel, Spencer street. Major Murrell was a broadcasting expert in the telephone branch, and Lieutenant Read was an engineer in the transmission section.DIRECTORIES OF VICTORIA, MELBOURNE-SANDS AND KENNY, SANDS & MCDOUGALL(1858 Sir Charles Hotham only hotel in Spencer St south1870 Batman's Hotel north of Flinders lane1875 Batman's Hotel -HN Proctor1880, 1885 Batman's Hill Hotel- Francis Bennett)1935 Batman's Hill Hotel Mrs Ada A Riley1930 Batman's Hill Hotel Mrs Ada A Riley (Harold Riley 66)1920, D1924 Batman's Hill Hotel Mrs Ada A Riley (Harold Riley 66)
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| Type | Reference No. | Extent | Status/Desc |
|---|---|---|---|
| Original | 108967 | 1 JPEG : 481 KB ; A4 | Single Item (May not be issued, may not be reproduced) |