Carlton Inn facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Carlton Inn |
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|---|---|
| General information | |
| Address | Corner of Leicester and Pelham Streets, Carlton, Victoria, Australia |
| Coordinates | 37°48′08″S 144°57′39″E / 37.802355°S 144.960880°E |
| Groundbreaking | February 1856 |
| Demolished | 16 October 2016 |
The Carlton Inn was an old pub in Carlton, Melbourne, Australia. It was built around 1856. Sadly, it was knocked down without permission in October 2016. This caused a lot of discussion because it was done illegally.
Before it was demolished, the Carlton Inn was one of the oldest buildings in the Carlton area. In its last years, people knew it as the "Corkman Irish Pub."
Contents
The Carlton Inn's Story
A Look Back in Time
The Carlton Inn has a long history. The land it stood on was first sold in 1853. By early 1856, workers were already building the hotel. It opened later that year, and George Edmonds was its first owner.
The Noble family owned the pub for about 100 years, starting in 1863. Over the years, the building was changed and updated several times. For example, in 1933, a new kitchen was added. Later, in 1936, a new two-storey part was built. More changes happened in 1954, adding things like a laundry and garage.
In its final years, the hotel was called the "Corkman Irish Pub." It was very popular with students and often had traditional Irish music playing.
Why the Building Was Special
The Carlton Inn was important because it was one of the oldest buildings in that part of Carlton. It showed the style of buildings from the Victorian period. Its front looked simple but strong, with a special finish called stucco.
What the Building Looked Like
The Carlton Inn was a two-storey building made of brick and bluestone. It had a simple Georgian style. The outside walls had a brown tiled section and a decorative top part with urns.
The Day It Was Demolished
In August 2016, two people, Stefce Kutlesovski and Raman Shaqiri, bought the hotel. A week before it was knocked down, a fire started at the pub. Then, on Saturday, October 15, demolition work began.
A city official came to the site and told the owners to stop. But Stefce Kutlesovski refused, saying it was his property. The city then issued a formal "stop order." However, the workers came back on Sunday and finished tearing the building down.
What Happened Next
Court Actions and Fines
After the demolition, the owners faced serious consequences. They were fined a lot of money for breaking rules. One big problem was that they removed dangerous materials, like asbestos, and dumped them near a school. This put people's health at risk.
The court said the fines were very large to stop other developers from doing similar things. The people representing the government said the owners didn't seem sorry for what they did. The owners had first agreed to rebuild the pub, but then they changed their minds and even fought the order in court.
In 2019, the owners were fined even more money for the illegal demolition. Later, in December 2020, they faced further court action for not following a court order to turn the site into a temporary park.
Public Reaction and Plans
Many people were very upset about the demolition. News channels, radio, and newspapers covered the story widely. Important leaders, like the Victorian Planning Minister and the Lord Mayor of Melbourne, spoke out. The Lord Mayor called it "the most brazen and wanton act of vandalism."
People called for stronger penalties for illegal demolitions. The government initially tried to make the owners rebuild the pub. However, a new plan was later made. This plan allowed the owners to build a tall 12-storey building on the site instead of rebuilding the pub. This decision was criticized by many.
Critics felt that this deal didn't punish the developers enough. They believed it might even encourage others to break rules. Some groups suggested that the government should take over the site completely to set a strong example.
