Heritage protection for rare country hotel

28/8/00
A rare surviving example of an 1870s country hotel and farmhouse has become the latest addition to the State's Register of Heritage Places.
Heritage Minister Graham Kierath today announced the heritage protection for the former Junction Hotel on the outskirts of Gingin.
Mr Kierath said that centred at the intersection of two key traffic routes and where the Gingin Brook meets the Moore River, the Junction Hotel had been a key meeting point for 127 years.
The hotel was built by pioneer Daniel King during a key phase of development of the Moore River area, at a time when other settlers were moving into the area in increasing numbers.
"In 1871, King took advantage of the increased traffic along the stock route by growing produce in his garden and establishing a vineyard to cater for travellers along the route," Mr Kierath said.
"The following year, his existing house was badly damaged by floods, so he set about building a new farmhouse and hotel to properly cater for the travelling trade.
"King obtained a licence for the hotel and a racecourse and sports ground was established nearby."
Mr Kierath said the hotel and farmhouse was a single-storey building in the Victorian Georgian style. It was made of home-burnt bricks, pit sawn timbers, a shingled roof and included a cellar.
Daniel King died in 1890 at the age of 56 and the business was carried on by his son Charles but within a few years traffic gradually diminished, the hotel became unprofitable and more emphasis was placed on farming operations.
In 1961, a syndicate acquired the hotel and property as a farming venture. The building was eventually vacated in 1995 and has been unused since then.
Mr Kierath said the building was highly prized by the local community and deserved the protection of the State's heritage laws.
"The Shire of Gingin has recognised the importance of the building and has agreed to buy the old hotel to conserve it for use by the community," he said.
Media contact: Zac Donovan (08) 9213 6400