York Palace Hotel facts for kids

Quick facts for kids York Palace Hotel
York Palace Hotel
General information
Architectural style	Federation Free Classical
Address	Avon Terrace
Town or city	York, Western Australia
Construction started	1909
Renovated	1997

The York Palace Hotel is a famous building in York, Western Australia. It was built in 1909 during a time when many new buildings were going up in the town. This hotel was a big and important construction project for its time.

Early Days: Hoops' Store

The land where the hotel stands was first given to a police sergeant named Thomas Bailey in 1854. He bought it for £6. Later, in 1871, the land was sold to William Wigmore Hoops for £450.

William Hoops built a store on this property. In 1891, Richard Hoops became the owner. After some financial issues, the property changed hands in 1898.

New Owner: Matthew Ryan

In 1907, a local farmer named Matthew Ryan bought the property. He paid £1,350 for it. Ryan had big plans for the site.

Building the Palace Hotel

Matthew Ryan decided to tear down Hoops' old store. In its place, he built the grand Palace Hotel. The architect who designed the hotel was Ernest Edward Giles. The builder was J V Miles.

The Palace Hotel officially opened its doors on New Year's Day in 1909. MacKay and Stone were the first people to run the hotel.

Modern Features of the Hotel

When it opened, the hotel was considered very modern. It was built with the latest ideas and looked great on Avon Terrace, the main street. The hotel had plenty of space for guests.

It featured tall, airy bathrooms with hot and cold water. There were also private sitting rooms that offered comfort. The hotel even had a special septic tank system for its plumbing.

For entertainment, there was a billiard room with a high-quality Alcock's table. The entire building was lit by an acetylene gas plant. All the furniture was made by a well-known manufacturer from Perth, Mr W Zimpel.

Adding a Music Hall

Just a year after the hotel opened, in 1910, a large music hall was added. It was built behind the main hotel building by F Sempf. This hall would have been a popular spot for shows and events.

Changes in Ownership

In 1913, the hotel business was sold to Paul Reichardt. Matthew Ryan, who built the hotel, continued to own the property itself until 1921.

A Disagreement Over Ownership

In September 1921, the property was sold to PA Connelly and Freda Hale. However, Matthew Ryan did not want to leave the hotel. He felt he had been treated unfairly.

Police became involved when Ryan was reported to have explosives. He said they were for his farm work. After a trial, a jury decided he was not guilty.

Later, Ryan took legal action against the company that sold the hotel. He was awarded some money, but this decision was later changed by a higher court.

The Hotel Through the Years

In the 1960s, the Swan Brewery owned the hotel. During this time, some changes were made to its look. The original verandah was replaced with a different style of roof, and a special turret on the roof was removed.

Restoration and Reopening

In 1997, John Hay bought the hotel. He worked hard to restore it to its original grand appearance. This included bringing back the old verandah and the unique candle-snuffer roof. He also added more rooms at the back.

The hotel then operated as the York Hotel. It closed in 2012 after John Hay's company faced financial difficulties.

The current owners bought the hotel and reopened it in 2016. It is now known as the York Palace Hotel once again. It also includes a restaurant called Alice in the Palace.