Palace Hotel, Kalgoorlie facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Palace Hotel |
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| General information | |
| Type | Hotel |
| Architectural style | Federation architecture |
| Location | Corner of Hannan and Maritana Streets |
| Address | 137 Hannan Street |
| Town or city | Kalgoorlie, Western Australia |
| Coordinates | 30°44′47″S 121°28′27″E / 30.7464°S 121.4743°E |
| Opened | December 1897 |
| Technical details | |
| Floor count | 2 |
| Design and construction | |
| Architecture firm | Porter & Thomas |
The Palace Hotel is a famous old hotel located on Hannan Street in Kalgoorlie, Western Australia. It is known for its beautiful design and interesting history.
Contents
Where is the Palace Hotel?
The Palace Hotel is found right on the corner of Hannan and Maritana Streets. It sits across the road from another historic building, the Exchange Hotel.
History of the Palace Hotel
The Palace Hotel was built in 1897. It was made for a man named Harry Rosenthal. Building the hotel cost a lot of money back then, about £17,000.
Building and Design
The hotel opened its doors in December 1897. It had forty-four bedrooms for guests. The building was designed in a style called Federation architecture. This style was popular in Australia around that time.
The architects, Porter & Thomas, wanted it to be the most luxurious hotel outside of Perth. Its furniture even came all the way from Melbourne. The Palace Hotel was also the first in Kalgoorlie to have electric lights. It even had its own generator! Plus, fresh water was supplied to all bathrooms from its own special machines.
Early Years and Changes
After it was built, newspapers often wrote about how grand the hotel was. In 1904, a fire caused some damage to the hotel and nearby buildings. Later, in 1936, parts of the hotel on the Hannan Street side were updated.
Herbert Hoover's Connection
One of the most famous people to visit the Palace Hotel was Herbert Hoover. He later became the President of the United States from 1929 to 1933. When he was 22, he worked as a mining engineer in Kalgoorlie.
Hoover often stayed at the Palace Hotel. During his time there, he was inspired to write a special poem. You can still see a part of this poem in the hotel's main entrance area. It talks about dreams and a beautiful park in Kalgoorlie.
Do you ever dream, my sweetheart, of a twilight long ago,
Of a park in old Kalgoorlie, where the bougainvilleas grow?
Where the moonbeams on the pathways trace a shimmering brocade,
And the overhanging peppers form a lover's promenade?
Where in soft cascades of cadence from a garden close at hand,
Came the murmurous, mellow music of a sweet orchestral band.
Years have flown since then, my sweetheart, fleet as orchid blooms in May.
But the hour that fills my dreaming, was it only yesterday...
Before he left for China, Hoover gave the hotel a mirror as a gift. This special mirror, known as the Hoover Mirror, is still in the foyer next to his poem. There's also a place in the hotel called Hoover's Cafe and Lounge Bar named after him.
Recent Times
The hotel celebrated its 60th birthday in 1957 with a big party. The Palace Hotel has also been featured in many old photographs of Hannan Street. These pictures show how the street and the hotel have changed over time.
Why the Palace Hotel is Important
The Palace Hotel is considered a very important historical building. It has been listed on the State Heritage Register since 1997. This means it is protected because of its special history and design.
