Settlers House, York facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Settlers House |
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| Former names | AE Pyke Temperance Hotel, Inkpen Building |
| General information | |
| Address | 125 Avon Terrace |
| Town or city | York, Western Australia |
| Construction started | 1861 |
| Renovated | post 1972 |
| References | |
| York municipal inventory | |
Settlers House is an old and important building in the middle of York, Western Australia. It used to be a hotel and has a long history.
Contents
Who Owned the Land First?
The land where Settlers House stands was first owned by John Taylor. He was a farmer and bought the land in 1855 for £10. Next to this land was a blacksmith's shop. Henry Stevens, a blacksmith, leased this shop from Solomon Cook.
How Settlers House Was Built
Henry Stevens bought the land for Settlers House in 1860 for £40. He had arrived in Australia in 1852. Henry was also a builder. He started building the oldest part of Settlers House in 1861.
From 1863, Henry Stevens often used workers who had been convicts. These workers had a special pass called a ticket-of-leave. This means that some parts of the building were likely built by these workers.
Settlers House as a Travellers' Inn
The building was used as a place for travellers to stay. There was a lot of space outside for horse-drawn coaches. In front of the building was the town's public well. People could get water for themselves and their horses there. This was probably where Thomas Horton's coach line from Guildford to York ended its journey.
In 1875, Mary Craig bought the property for £462.
The First Newspaper Office
In 1877, a part of the building was rented to George Inkpen. He started the first newspaper in the area, called the Eastern Districts Chronicle. The newspaper's main offices were on the top floor. The printing machines were on the ground floor, where the bar is now. The Eastern Districts Chronicle newspaper was printed there until 1959.
Coaches and Shops
In April 1899, Mrs. AE Pyke moved her "Temperance Hotel" into Settlers House. A Temperance Hotel did not serve alcohol. She used the right side of the building for her hotel. In 1909, she moved her business. George Ding then moved his boarding house business into the building.
In 1906, a row of shops was built along the front of Settlers House. One of these shops was the Regal Tea Rooms, run by A.W. Pyke. Today, different shops still operate from these spaces. The Inkpen family bought the building in 1929. After that, it became known as the Inkpen Building.
Bringing the Building Back to Life
After the Eastern Districts Chronicle newspaper closed, the left side of the building became empty. However, the right side continued to be a boarding house. In 1968, an earthquake in Meckering damaged some of the inside walls. Because of this, the whole building became empty.
In 1972, an interior designer named Eric Turton bought the building. He worked to restore it to how it looked in 1875. One of the first things he did was cut back the overgrown vines. These vines were covering the building.
In 1981, Eric Turton sold Settlers House to Peter Briggs. Peter Briggs had also bought and started the York Motor Museum. He made the old building bigger, extending it towards Howick Street.
Settlers House Today
Today, Settlers House is still a popular place. It operates as a tavern with a bar and places to eat both inside and outside. It is also well-known for its live music events.
