Black Eagle Hotel, 42-44 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne
Butler, Graeme1985
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Black Eagle Hotel, 42-44 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne
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1985
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BIF-CITY 110716
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Item from Collection: Heritage Collection (HC)
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Series: Central City (BIF-CITY)
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RESEARCH ADDED BY GRAEME BUTLER 2024:__________________________________________________DATE: 1850-; ASSOCIATIONS: Kennon, William;DESIGNER: Kennon, William?;BUILDER: Kennon,WilliamPeriod: Early Victorian_________________VICTORIA HERITAGE REGISTER H2265Statement of SignificanceWhat is significant?The former Black Eagle Hotel is a two storey building in the once notorious 'Little Lon' district of Melbourne. It was built in 1850 by William Kennon as a pair of two-storey bluestone and brick dwellings, but was probably used as a hotel from the beginning, though it was not described as such until 1853. The first licensee was William Brandt who held it until 1858, when the owner, Kennon, took over the license, and held it with his son Hugh until 1882, when the hotel was purchased by the Melbourne Brewing and Malting Company. It closed down in 1908, along with many others in the city, following the Licenses Reduction laws of 1906, and after this was home to various businesses. It was a lodging house for some years and from 1918 was occupied by a Chinese cabinet maker, W H Chinn. In 1919 the property was purchased by the printer Joshua McClelland who in 1920 built a large single-storey brick printing shed (now demolished) at the rear and operated a printing business here until 1977. In 1948 the building was acquired by the Commonwealth Government. The building has been restored and is now used as a shop on the ground floor with storage and office space above. The rear facade has been incorporated into the new commercial development at 50 Lonsdale Street, part of which is built over what was the back courtyard of the hotel. The city block on which the building is located has been redeveloped, and the former hotel is now almost surrounded by high-rise buildings: the Telstra national headquarters, the Casselden Place office tower and The Urban Workshop.The former Black Eagle Hotel is a Colonial Georgian style building of two storeys and an attic with a gabled slate roof. The Lonsdale Street exterior appears as a pair of two-storey buildings built to the footpath, with 42 Lonsdale appearing as a residence and 44 Lonsdale as a shop front with residence above, but the two have been joined into one. The walls are random coursed bluestone rubble with a thin render finish. On the street facade there is quoining around the doors and building edges and the render is ruled. The windows are double-hung sashes. The plate glass shop window is of recent origin and has Doric style timber pilasters on each side which replicate the original timber work, which had almost disappeared by the 1980s. On the western corner are remnants of early twentieth century painted signs. Internally the timber ceilings and floors have been replaced but some original, though fire-damaged, floor and ceiling joists remain. There are two original fireplaces, now closed over, on the ground floor and two open hearths on the first floor. Some early features survive in the attic, including the main roof purlins and rafters, laths of the original plastered ceilings and a section of beaded pine wall and floor. Some of the walls are lined with illustrations taken from nineteenth century newspapers and magazines. Over this was mid- to late-Victorian period wallpaper, now partly burnt off. On the lower floors are remnants of wallpaper, some fragments from the early twentieth century, and some larger sections from the period when the building was a bar although none of these are historically significant.This site is part of the traditional land of the Wurundjeri people.How is it significant?The former Black Eagle Hotel is of historical and architectural significance to the state of Victoria.Why is it significant?The former Black Eagle Hotel is historically significant as one of the oldest surviving buildings in the City of Melbourne, and one of the few to survive from before the gold rush period. It is largely intact externally and is now a rare demonstration of the many modest buildings once common in the city, most of which have now been either demolished or significantly altered, and is of great importance in helping to understand the way of life in the city during the nineteenth century. It is significant for its association with Melbourne's Little Lon district, which in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries was home to the city's poorest residents and many immigrant groups, particularly the Chinese, and was notorious for its poverty, crime and prostitution. It is significant for its association with Melbourne's Chinatown in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries when many buildings in this part of Melbourne was occupied by Chinese cabinet makers.The former Black Eagle Hotel is architecturally significant as a rare surviving example of a small 1850s residence cum hotel building in a Colonial Georgian style which has retained its scale and external form.__________________GRAEME BUTLER 1985 MELBOURNE CENTRAL ACTIVITIES DISTRICT CONSERVATION STUDYBUILDING IDENTIFICATION FORM cites source 77, DARYL JACKSON EVAN WALKER ARCHITECTS PTY. LTD 1976 FOR HISTORIC BUILDINGS PRESERVATION COUNCIL; MELBOURNE: THE AREA BOUNDED BY VICTORIA, SPRING, LONSDALE AND SWANSTON STSRecommended Alterations 1985 No. 42, new shopfront, door and stucco added (both sympathetic - reinstate original design), No. 44 new door (sympathetic - reinstate original design), new shopfront (inappropriate - reinstate original design or sympathetic alternative).Other Comments Stucco added, 19th century; shown Bibb's map c1856___________________________DARYL JACKSON EVAN WALKER ARCHITECTS PTY. LTD 1976 FOR HISTORIC BUILDINGS PRESERVATION COUNCIL; MELBOURNE: THE AREA BOUNDED BY VICTORIA, SPRING, LONSDALE AND SWANSTON STS (source 77): 95Built 18531 HistoricalBuilt in 1853 for William Brandt (1).By 1860 William Kennon was the owner (2)2 Architectural2.1 Described in 1853 as "stone and brick, 8 rooms, bar and kitchen (3).2.2 Two storey building originally exposed bluestone and brick (4) and later finished with stucco. Externally simple, almost Georgian facade, with brick and stucco cornice which originally returned around west corner.The separate entrances are original. The shop windows are not, although the wide timber bressemer across No. 44 appears to be original. A blocked attic window in the west side of the building indicates an attic storey.Footnotes(1) M.C.C. Rate Book Gipps Ward No. 439 1853.(2) Sands and MacDougall Directory 1860.(3) M.C.C. Rate book Gipps Ward No. 439 1853.(4) Ibid___________________________LEWIS, M- AUSTRALIAN ARCHITECTURE INDEXRecord 75457 ; Kennon, William - Lonsdale St Melbourne VIC Houses Kennon, William 1850 07 12 237-MCC registration no 237 [Burchett Index]. Fee 5.15.0two houses Lonsdale near east___________________________VICTORIA HERITAGE REGISTER H2265CONTEXTUAL HISTORYFrom as early as the 1840s this part of the city, known as Little Lon, was a mixed working class residential and business area. The block bounded by Spring, Lonsdale, Exhibition and Little Lonsdale Streets was subdivided and sold in 1847, and the first buildings constructed in 1848. By 1850 most of the blocks had been sold and most of the sites between the ubiquitous corner hotels were occupied by small shops, office and houses. Behind in the newly named little lanes were an increasing number of small new cottages and shops, sometimes of only one or two rooms.Although there were some larger industries established in Lonsdale Street, including an iron foundry, a dye works and a sawmill and timber yard, the area overwhelmingly was characterised by small businesses and dwellings, and by a noticeably high proportion of single ladies. Lonsdale Street east was the centre of the better class of prostitutes, including the famous houses kept by Scotch Maude, Biddy O'Connor and Madam Brussels, who occupied a house at 32-6 Lonsdale Street (replaced in 1914) with the rear entrance off Casselden Place.In the 1860s the area was perceived as an overcrowded slum, housing the poorest residents and immigrants. During the late 1800s the area became an extension of Chinatown and many Chinese businesses moved into the area, particularly cabinet-makers making cheap furniture, and by 1900 occupied many buildings in the area. This trade also declined in the 1900s, and there was much building of substantial red brick commercial buildings along the street frontages. Sanitation measures were crude and most houses had an outdoor cesspit and no piped water. An underground water and sewerage system was not begun until the 1890s and until then problems with health and sanitation were widespread. Between 1886 and 1900 many houses in the block were declared unfit for habitation and demolished.Immigrants were attracted to the area in the early twentieth century, mainly Chinese, Syrians, Italians and Indians.The area has from its beginnings contained only modest structures. Land values were always less than in other parts of the city, and redevelopment pressure in the second half of the twentieth century when many Victorian-era buildings in other parts of Melbourne were being demolished, was also less, so that many of the modest buildings typical of the area in the mid- to late-nineteenth century were retained.The block between Spring, Lonsdale, Exhibition and Little Lonsdale Streets was purchased by the Commonwealth Government in 1948 and became known as the Commonwealth Block. Until then it had not been the subject of major redevelopment and retained its mid to late nineteenth century character. In the early 1960s most buildings in the area were demolished for car parking and in 1988 the western and eastern parts of the block were redeveloped, following an extensive archaeological excavation, but two of the oldest buildings, the Black Eagle Hotel (1850) and Oddfellows Hotel (early 1850s), were retained.The Commonwealth Government sold the land to Industry Superannuation Property Trustees in 1999-2000.HISTORY OF PLACE[from the Heritage Alliance 'Conservation Plan HO710. Black Eagle Hotel 42-44 Lonsdale Street'; and Terry Sawyer & Ivar Nelson, 'Conservation Management Plan. Former Black Eagle Hotel', July 1994.]During the Crown Grants of 1848, William Kennon, a stonemason, acquired this land at 42-44 Lonsdale Street. He subsequently built two two-storey bluestone and brick dwellings on the site. From its beginnings the building was used as a hotel, although the first rate description in 1851 does not indicate this. It is not until 1853 that the Black Eagle is given its official public house status. In order to increase its facilities, a loft, additional sheds and Blacksmith's shop at the rear were added in 1854. The first licensee was William Brandt who held the license until 1858, when William Kennon took it over, and he and his son Hugh held the licence until 1882, when the hotel was purchased by the Melbourne Brewing and Malting Company.The large number of hotels in the Little Lon area and their notorious reputation for unruly behaviour attracted widespread concern, reaching a peak in the 1890s. A Licenses Reduction Board was established in Victoria in 1906 to enable the withdrawing of licenses from hotels which did not meet certain standards. Between 1907 and 1912 the number of licenses dropped from 3562 to about a thousand less. The Black Eagle, like many hotels in the area, was closed down in 1908.The former hotel was home to a number of businesses after the hotel closure. It became a lodging house run by Mrs E M de Grimbert for some years, and from 1918 was occupied by the cabinet maker W H Chinn. The property was purchased by the printer Joshua McClelland in 1919, and he operated a printing business here until 1977. After taking over the premises, he demolished all the yard structures bar the toilet and urinal in the north-east corner of the site. A large single-storey red brick printing shed (now demolished) was constructed in the yard using the west and east garden walls as support for the new roof and a new northern wall with large hopper windows. These works are recorded as taking place in 1920 (McCarthy, 1990:9).Ryan (1979:68) provides the following description of the property as it was in 1979:When originally built in 1859, the premises were two two-storey exposed bluestone and brick dwellings which were later finished with stucco. The simple facade, almost Georgian, is original except for the ground floor windows which have been altered. The separate entrances are original. A blocked window in the west side of the building [since restored] indicates an attic storey. A fire in the building at some stage either destroyed or forced the closure of access to the loft.In 1990 an archaeological investigation was conducted at the site (known as Site B in McCarthy report). Restoration work begun in 1994 was completed in 1995 and the property was further fitted out in 1998.The building is now used as a shop on the ground floor with storage and office space above. The rear facade has been incorporated into the new commercial building at 50 Collins Street, which is built over what was once the back yard of the hotel.___________________________VICTORIA HERITAGE DATABASENATIONAL TRUST OF AUSTRALIA (VIC)Statement of SignificanceLast Updated: 02/06/2008The Black Eagle Hotel opened for busuness in 1853 in a building that combined two houses built in 1850. William Brandt was the first licensee. It remained in private hands until 1882 when it was purchased by the Melbourne Brewing and Malting Company. From this time till its final closure in 1908 its trade would have profited greatly from the acitvity at the infamous Madame Brussel's brothel, two doors along the street. In the 20th century it was principally used as a printing works. It is the oldest surviving building in the area once known as "Little Lon", and, together with the Oddfellow Hotel, is of immense significance in explaning the society that once existed in the poorest quarter of Melbourne.Classified: 01/10/1987See also B2818 Commonwealth owned buildings.___________________________NEWSPAPERS:1865The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957)Thursday 9 November 1865 - Page 7MINING MEETINGS.SETTING SUN COMPANY.An extraordinary meeting of shareholders in the Setting Sun Gold-mining Company, Wood's Point, was held yesterday, at the Black Eagle Hotel, Lonsdale-street, Mr. J. Kelly in the chair....1872EAST MELBOURNE ELECTIONMr. HENRY CLARKE'S COMMITTEE Will MEET THIS EVENING At 7,30 o'clock, at the undermentioned places: Block 1 Kennon's Black Eagle Hotel Lonsdale street; etc.1873https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/138633261CITY COURT. On Sunday, the 9th inst., three small boys were arrested in Carlton-gardens for disorderly conduct—one being drunk and the others under the influence of liquor ; and they stated that they got the drink at the Black Eagle Hotel, Lonsdale-street east. On Tuesday Hugh Kennon, landlord of the Black Eagle, was summoned by Inspector Sadleir for Sunday trading. One of the boys, named Bryan, deposed that he got the liquor—beer—in a jug at the Black Eagle Hotel four times on the Sunday in question, and was served each time by the landlord. He bought threepenny worth each time. The defendant said that he was greatly annoyed by these and other boys, and was perpetually driving them away from the neighbourhood of his house. He gave one of the associates of Bryan in charge on one occasion, and on that account this case was concocted by the boys. He had no recollection of serving the boy, and was not in the habit of serving boys. The boys denied that the story was an invention. Kennon was fined 20s..https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/61492895GAS FROM GIPPSLAND SHALE.An experiment on a small scale to test the gas-producing quality of Gippsland shale was made on Wednesday night at Kennon's Black Eagle hotel, Lonsdale street east. About three weeks ago Mr James Veysey, of the Crossover Creek diggings, Gippsland, observed that the bed of the creek was composed of shale, and conceiving that it might be utilised in lieu of coal for the production of illuminating gas, he had a sample taken from the surface forwarded to Mr Wm. Jahn, mining engineer and analyst. Mr Jahn reported that the sample consisted of bituminous shale, and that the result of his examination was very satisfactory. From two and one-fifth pounds of the shale he obtained four cubic feet of gas of good illuminating quality equivalent to a yield of 4,100 cubic feet of gas from one ton of the shale. He would have liked to test a sample taken from a depth at which the value of the shale would not have been deteriorated by atmospheric influences, and had no doubt that the' quality at some depth below the surface would be good. The bed of the creek is bounded by high banks, which render extensive prospecting difficult at present; but Mr. Voysey's examination and sinking led him to believe that there was any amount of shale to be obtained. He found a solid bed eight feet thick, and ex. tending into the banks of the creek, and he followed up the bed for a distance of 150 yards. He has taken up 640 acres under a searching license for six months, and proposes to form a company to further prospect and work the ground. It is stated that the locality is about 15 miles from the terminus of the proposed Gippsland railway line, and that great facilities exist for making a tramway from the creek to the line. The experiment last night was conducted by Mr Jahn, and though successful to a certain extent, in as much as gas was generated which burnt freely, and gave a somewhat uncertain light, it cannot be looked upon as a fair test of the illuminating value of the gas shale, because the arrangements wore merely improvised and very imperfect, and the shale used was that taken from the surface of the creek.Two iron quick silvery bottles were used as retorts, and having been filled with shale, were placed in a large kitchen fire at the back of the hotel. The gas thus generated in the temporary retorts was conveyed by pipes to receiving vessels, where it was to some extent purified by passing through water, and was then conducted by a small india rubber hose into a back parlour, where the hose ended in a pipe provided with a couple of fan-light gas-burners of the ordinary description. The gas as might hove been expected, was not fairly purified, and the flame had a great tendency to burn blue and flicker at first, but after awhile it gave out a light by which one could read with some difficulty. In the present state of affairs it was not thought desirable to go to much expense, but Messrs Veysey and Jahn might be able to obtain the assistance of a few gentlemen interested, say shareholders in the gas companies, who could subscribe sufficient money to pay for a fair experiment with proper appliances at one of the gas company's works. The result of the experiment was quite encouraging enough to justify the prosecution of the enterprise, especially at the present time, when colliery strikes are causing anxiety as to the price of coals..1876KILLED BY A SHARK.An inquest was held yesterday by Dr. Youl, at the Black Eagle Hotel, Lonsdale-street, on the body of Peter Rooney, aged 18 years, astonemason, the son of Patrick Rooney, carpenter, Leichhardt-street, off Lonsdale-street east.... Robert Johnson, plumber, Collingwood, stated that on Sunday morning he went to bathe at Emerald-hill with the deceased, in the open sea. The deceased swam out a considerable distance, came in, and was swimming out again, but when in about 5ft. of water he called out "for God's sake, save me." Some person rode out on horseback and brought in the deceased, who was bleeding from severe wounds on the leg, and who died at once.George Pritchard, printer, Emerald-hill, stated that on Sunday morning, at about half-past 6, he was swimming a horse in the sea at Emerald-hill, when he heard the deceased (Rooney) splashing and saw the fins of a fish near him. Witness called out "Shark," and rode out to the deceased. When witness got near him, the deceased dropped his head and closed his eyes, but immediately seemed to come to a little, and held out his hand, which witness seized. Witness then saw the shark, which made a bound at the deceased and missed him. The shark then went on the other side of the horse, but witness managed to get the deceased out before he was bitten again. The shark in its endeavours to get at the deceased struck the horse. The deceased was not dead when got out, but died soon afterwards. The sea was stained with his blood. Dr. Youl said he hoped this case would serve as a warning to people against bathing in the open sea, seeing that the cautions which had appeared in the newspapers had not had any effect. He also remarked on the fact that a warning letter appeared in The Argus the day before this young man was killed. The jury found that the deceased died from loss of blood from being severely bitten by a shark.,1905INSISTENT AND UNPROFITABLE CUSTOMERS.John Caples, licensee of the Black Eagle Hotel, Lonsdale street, was proceeded Against on a charge of permitting women of bad character to be on his licensed premises on Sunday, 23rd of April last.Constable Hallett stated that he saw three women of bad character enter the defendant's hotel shortly before 12 o'clock on Saturday night, 22nd of April. They remained there some time, and witness entered the hotel shortly after midnight and found the women there. They said they had been refused drink.Defendant stated that the side door was opened to admit his son and a lodger, and the three women rushed In. They were refused drink, but would not go out. Defendant was fined.....1934https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/10963033THE SALLE DE VALENTINOWhere Richardson's Imperial Hotel now stands at the top of Bourke street there existed, in the earlier 'fifties, the Salle de Valentino-a ramshackle circular building, half-barn, half-tent. Its proprietor was James Ellis-he who began the Cremorne Gardens at Richmond in 1853, and had previously been at the Cremorne Gardens, London. In 1854 Madame Carandlni-whose husband was dancing teacher at the Old Model School in Spring street- was the Salle's star attraction. At the top of Great Lonsdale street three doctors practised-Maund Goodwin, and Auchterlonie Creelman and farther down the street were Schwartz' Black Eagle Hotel and various German skittle alleys. The Black Eagle, now a printer's factory, still stands. Late in 1854 the Salle de Valentino was demolished..1937https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/205598864OBITUARY.OLD LONSDALE-ST. RESIDENT,Mrs. Mary Werner, who was born In Melbourne 87 years ago, died at her home, Mills-street, Albert Park. She lived originally at The Black Eagle Hotel, Lonsdale-street, which was owned by her father, William Brandt. In those early days, Lonsdale-street was actually a busy thoroughfare as a theatre, circus and other houses of entertainment were to be found there, in after years Mrs. Werner was well known In Carlton, Hawthorn and Albert Park. She leaves one daughter, Miss Ida Werner.
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| Type | Reference No. | Extent | Status/Desc |
|---|---|---|---|
| Original | 110716 | 1 PDF : 1,106 KB ; A4 | Group of Items (May not be issued, may not be reproduced) |