Shamrock Hotel, Bendigo facts for kids
| Hotel Shamrock | |
Quick facts for kids  Shamrock Hotel as viewed from across Pall Mall in 2008 |
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| Hotel facts and statistics | |
|---|---|
| Location | Corner of Pall Mall and Williamson Street, Bendigo, Vic, 3550 |
| Opening date | 1854 (Exchange Hotel) 1855 (Shamrock Hotel) 1860 (rebuilt - Shamrock Hotel) 1897 (rebuilt - Shamrock Hotel) 1981 (re-opened) Shamrock Hotel 2008 (rebranded) Hotel Shamrock |
| Architect | Phillip Kennedy |
| No. of restaurants | 3. 1x Bistro, 1x Fine Dining, 1x Gaming |
| No. of rooms | 28 |
| of which suites | 4 |
| Parking | off-site |
| No. of floors | 5 |
The Shamrock Hotel (also known as Hotel Shamrock) is a grand old hotel built in the 1800s. It is located in Bendigo, Victoria, Australia, on Pall Mall, the city's main street.
The current Shamrock building is a very important landmark in Bendigo. It is famous for its history and amazing design. It is a significant building for all of Australia. It is also important to Victoria as part of a group of old buildings in a similar style.
Discovering the Shamrock Hotel's Past
The Shamrock Hotel started in 1854. It was first a small place called The Exchange Hotel. It served miners during the Victorian gold rush. This was a time when many people came to Victoria to find gold.
The hotel also had an office for Cobb and Co.. This was a famous coach company that carried people and mail. There was also a concert hall called the Theatre Royal.
Early Days and Famous Visitors
The hotel quickly became popular as the goldfields grew. It was renamed the Shamrock in 1855. In the same year, a famous dancer named Lola Montez performed at the Theatre Royal. Miners threw gold nuggets at her feet. The hotel staff collected many of these as tips when they cleaned up.
The Bendigo Shakespeare and Literary Society also performed at the theatre. They started their shows there in 1861.
Rebuilding and Growing Importance
The Shamrock was completely rebuilt in 1864. It became a large hotel with two grand, three-story buildings. These buildings were in the Victorian Regency architecture style. This style uses classic designs and shapes.
By this time, the Shamrock was the main hotel in central Sandhurst. That was what Bendigo was called back then. Important visitors to the goldfields often stayed there. This included the governor, Charles Henry Darling. In the 1870s, a large two-story balcony was added to the hotel.
The Hotel's Grand Design
In 1897, the hotel was rebuilt again. This time, it was designed by Phillip Kennedy. He was a student of a German architect named William Charles Vahland.
A Unique Architectural Style
The hotel's design is called Second Empire architecture. It has four main floors and a special tall fifth floor with a sloped roof. This roof is called a mansard roof. The building has fancy decorations called stucco mouldings.
It also has a special Australian feature. This is a double-story wrap-around balcony with detailed ironwork. This style is known as Victorian Filigree. The entrance floor has the hotel's name spelled out in small tiles. The hotel's name is also carved into the glass above the main door.
A Rival to Melbourne's Best
The goal was to make the Shamrock as grand as the Grand Hotel in Melbourne. The builders were Baxter and Boyne.
The Shamrock played a part in the History of Australia. In 1898, it hosted the Australian Natives' Association. At a dinner there, Alfred Deakin gave a speech. He spoke about supporting the idea of Federation of Australia. This was when the different Australian colonies joined together to form one country.
Famous Guests and Their Requests
Many famous people have stayed at the hotel. One was the famous singer Dame Nellie Melba. She stayed in a corner room on the third floor. This room was across from the Bendigo Post Office clock tower. She asked for the clock's hourly chime to be turned off!
Other famous guests included Harry Lauder, Ignacy Jan Paderewski, John McCormack, and Richard Strauss.
Saving the Shamrock: A 1970s Story
In the 1970s, many old hotels like the Shamrock were not as popular. They were at risk of being torn down to build new office buildings. But the government, led by Rupert Hamer, stepped in. They bought the hotel for $240,000 to save it. They also said it was an important historical building for the state.
Restoring Its Beauty and Reopening
The Victorian Public Works Department then started a big restoration project. It cost about $2.5 million. The work was finished on April 14, 1981. Many of the original features were kept. These included the grand staircase, the balconies, and the second-floor sitting room.
The old elevator from the 1920s was also kept. Most of the rooms were updated with modern bathrooms. The top floor, under the mansard roof, was closed off. The basement level was also closed. The hotel was then rented out to Clover Hotels.
After it reopened, some very important guests stayed there. These included Charles, Prince of Wales and Diana, Princess of Wales. They visited during a royal tour in 1983.
Today, the Shamrock is run by a private company. It used to be part of the Comfort Inn hotel group. It is still one of Bendigo's most popular places for events. Many people also take photos there, especially for wedding parties.
Recognizing Its Heritage
The Shamrock was given special protection in 1975. This meant it was recognized as an important historical site. In 1978, it was added to the Register of the National Estate. This showed it was important to all of Australia.
Today, Heritage Victoria recognizes it as a very important state heritage site. It is listed on the Victorian Heritage Register. The National Trust of Victoria also says it is important to the state.
