Rockingham Hotel (Western Australia) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Rockingham Hotel |
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The Rockingham Hotel, seen from Kent Street in 2020
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| Former names | Port Hotel Peron Hotel |
| General information | |
| Type | Hotel and pub |
| Location | 26 Kent Street, Rockingham, Western Australia |
| Coordinates | 32°16′32″S 115°43′53″E / 32.275674°S 115.731428°E |
| Official name | Rockingham Hotel |
| Type | State Registered Place |
| Designated | 2008 |
| Delisted | 7 June 2011 |
| Reference no. | 2321 |
| Construction started | 1886 |
The Rockingham Hotel is a very old and important building in Rockingham, Western Australia. It started as a hotel and pub way back in 1886. At that time, Rockingham was a busy place for sending out timber from Western Australia.
The hotel was once listed on the Western Australian State Register of Heritage Places in 2008. However, it was taken off this list in 2011. Even so, it is still on the City of Rockingham's own list of important heritage places.
Contents
A Look Back: The Hotel's History
How Rockingham Grew
Rockingham was first mapped out in 1847. But it didn't really start to grow until 1872. That's when a long pier, called a jetty, was built. This jetty was used to export a type of wood called jarrah timber from a place called Jarrahdale.
Between 1878 and 1883, Rockingham was very busy. More than half of all the timber sent out from Western Australia came from Rockingham. By 1903, timber exports from Rockingham stopped. After that, the town became a popular spot for holidays.
The Hotel's Early Days
The land where the Rockingham Hotel now stands was bought by Daniel Hymus in 1875. Daniel and his wife, Fanny Bell, came from some of the first families to settle in the Rockingham area.
The hotel was first called the Port Hotel. People believe it was built by James Bell Junior, who was Fanny's brother. The first building was only one story tall and made of timber. It was built on a slope, facing the sea, with steps leading up to the main area.
The building you see today was built in 1898. Daniel and Fanny Hymus had a new, two-story stone building put up in front of the old one. This new part faces what is now Kent Street.
Changes and New Owners
In 1918, a person named L.D. Hicks leased the hotel. He changed its name to Peron Hotel, named after the nearby Cape Peron. Rockingham had become less popular after the port closed in 1904.
In 1922, Reginald Harrison bought the hotel. He also owned the Criterion Hotel in Perth. After World War I, more people started using cars. This made it easier for tourists from Perth to visit Rockingham. The hotel also benefited because it was far enough from the city that it could stay open on Sundays, which was not allowed in Perth.
Becoming a Popular Resort
Reginald Harrison turned the hotel into a stylish seaside resort. It was well-known for its beaches, fishing, and as a social gathering place. He changed and expanded the building and its surroundings. The hotel then looked like a Federation Arts and Crafts style building.
In 1925, Harrison sold the hotel to his friend George Grigg. Grigg also made the hotel bigger, adding more space on the southern side. This meant more room for social areas and more bedrooms. Changes were also made to the Kent Street side of the building. It got a two-story porch with a pointed roof in the middle. The hotel also had the first petrol pump in Rockingham in the 1920s. The hotel was very popular then, often fully booked during the summer.
Updates and New Additions
In the 1930s, George Grigg and his son, Reg, wanted to build a new hotel. But rules about licenses stopped them. So, they decided to update the existing hotel instead. It was then designed in the Inter-War Functionalist style, which was a modern look for that time.
Grigg did build a new place in 1933. But he couldn't get a license for it because it was too close to the existing hotel. This new building became The Trocadero, which was used as a dance hall and for other events. The Trocadero was located north-west of the hotel, where the car park is now. It was taken down in 2009.
In late 1952, a special outdoor area called a beer garden was added to the hotel. At this time, the hotel and The Trocadero were the main social spots in Rockingham.
More changes were made to the hotel in 1957. The porches on the Kent Street side were removed in 1967. Around 1989, the hotel's dining room was made larger. An outdoor dining area was also added on the side facing the beach.
In 2019, the hotel was put up for sale. The large property, which is about 1.15 hectares, was valued at around A$20 million.
Why the Hotel is Important: Heritage Listing
The Rockingham Hotel was temporarily added to the State Register of Heritage Places in 2008. But it was removed from the list in 2011 because its temporary listing ran out and didn't become permanent.
One reason it was considered important is that it's the last remaining part of what was once a big seaside resort. Also, four tall Norfolk Island pines and a stone wall, located north and north-east of the building, are also considered heritage items. These are the last parts of the old, popular outdoor social area.
Even though the Western Australian Heritage Council suggested keeping the hotel on the permanent list, the Heritage Minister, John Castrilli, decided not to.
