37-443: The York Palace Hotel , in York, Western Australia , was a major building constructed in 1909 during a building boom in that town in the first decade of the 20th century. The land on which the hotel was later to be constructed was granted to the local police sergeant, Thomas Bailey, in 1854 for £6. The land was sold to William Wigmore Hoops on 1 July 1871 for £450. Hoops constructed
74-595: A 10-acre site north of the town (on which they had built the first house, by the end of September 1831) and took a grant over a 4,000 acre block to the south which they established as a farm, later called Balladong Farm, after the Ballardong Noongar, the Aboriginal occupiers of the area. Later, part of the land to the south came to be called Bland's Town or Bland Town. Bland was resident magistrate from 1834 to 1842. In 1836, John Henry Monger Snr arrived and bought
111-550: A 20-year-old officer of the 63rd Regiment, led a small party in the first exploratory journey over the Darling Range , during the winter months of 1830 into what was later to be known as the Avon Valley. He returned with a report of "park-like lands with scattered trees", and after a second expedition, Lieutenant-Governor Stirling concluded that there appeared to be 1,000 square miles of "the finest imaginable sheep-land". As
148-399: A case of a contest until my securities are restored." He is reported to have informed Police Sgt Haggar at York that before anyone would take the hotel from him, he would blow it up. Police took out a search warrant and searched the hotel and found Ryan with gelignite, fuse, and detonators. Ryan was charged with unlawfully having the explosives in his possession for the purpose of blowing up
185-627: A follower of Arts and Crafts Style which came out of the Arts and Crafts Movement inspired by William Morris and John Ruskin . The railway station building (built in 1885), is one of the earliest Federation Arts and Crafts buildings in Australia and could be a Cotswold cottage from Bibury in Gloucestershire, that William Morris considered the ideal in house design. The Old York Hospital has similarity to William Morris's own home, Red House and
222-450: A result, Stirling decided that the new district should be thrown open for selection and this was done by Government Notice on 11 November 1830. By December 1830, 250,000 acres had been allotted, and in January 1831, 80,000 acres. Before the end of 1831 a further 6,030 acres in small lots had been taken up. In September 1831 Dale escorted the first party of settlers to the district, reaching
259-535: A shepherd called Knott. Bunbury initially tried to cover up Knott's death to avoid further conflict. In July 1837 Bunbury was again sent to the York district after the spearing deaths of two young settlers called Chidlow and Jones. In the ensuing violence soldiers and settlers killed at least 18 Ballardong Noongar people. In 1840, the York Agricultural Society was established, which became very influential in
296-526: A splendid wildflower garden behind Faversham House , as well as Avon Park , next to the town on the river, and Peace Park. The York Agricultural Show and The York Festival are normally held in September and October each year. For a town of its size, there are more heritage buildings in York than in any other town in Western Australia. not only that, the entire town has been declared a "Historic Town" by
333-509: A store on the property. In 1891, Richard Hoops became the owner of the property. In 1898, mortgagees foreclosed on Richard Hoops. In 1907, the property was purchased by Matthew Ryan for £1,350. Ryan was a local farmer. Ryan demolished Hoops' Store and constructed the Palace Hotel on the property. The architect was Ernest Edward Giles and the builder was J V Miles. The Palace Hotel opened on New Year's Day 1909. MacKay and Stone were
370-868: Is in Victorian Rustic Gothic style. The coming of rail in 1885 brought the Victorian Filigree style Imperial Hotel (1886). Gold rush buildings include the Federation Warehouse style York Flour Mill (1892), now a café and gallery, at the entrance to York and many of the buildings in Avon Terrace . The Western Australian Bank building, designed by JJ Talbot Hobbs and the Masonic Hall (designed by James William Wright ), are in Victorian Academic Classical style. Most of
407-646: Is one of the most admired Arts and Crafts buildings in the State. The former York Primary School (1886) also repeats a motif from Red House (the flèche). Federation Free Style buildings (the commercial equivalent of Arts and Crafts style) include the York Post Office (1893), the Courthouse and police station (c. 1896). All are designed by Temple-Poole and are on the State Heritage Register. The centre of
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#1732894446357444-650: The Avon River , 97 kilometres (60 mi) east of Perth in the Wheatbelt , on Ballardong Nyoongar land, and is the seat of the Shire of York . The name of the region was suggested by JS Clarkson during an expedition in October 1830 because of its similarity to his own county in England, Yorkshire . After thousands of years of occupation by Ballardong Nyoongar people, the area
481-509: The Castle Hotel (1905), designed by William G Wolf, who designed His Majesty's Theatre . The York Visitor Centre is located in the Town Hall . Ballardong Ballardong are an indigenous Noongar people of the south western area of Western Australia. The Ballardong's land encompasses an estimated 10,500 square miles (27,000 km ). Northwards they occupy the Avon River . From
518-436: The 10 acres of land immediately north of the town site from Bland and Trimmer for £100 on which the first house in York had been constructed of wattle and daub . Monger opened a hotel by early 1837, constructing in 1842 a "long, low building" opposite the hotel for a store, and "every three months his wagons would journey to Guildford or Perth for supplies". In July 1836 Lieutenant Henry William St Pierre Bunbury of
555-410: The 21st Regiment was sent to York to respond to rising levels of violence between colonial settlers and Ballardong Noongar people. His mission was "to make war upon the native". After many individual skirmishes and killings of Ballardong people, rumours of an attack on the natives, in which "several ... were wounded, and one woman was killed", were reported. In response to this, Ballardong people speared
592-463: The Avon valley on 16 September. They immediately set about the construction of huts, the preparation required for their stock and the cultivation of new land. Dale proposed an area two miles south of the summit of Mt Bakewell as the site for a future town to serve the district. In September 1833 a garrison of eight troops of the 21st North British Fusiliers was stationed at York. Rules and regulations for
629-463: The National Trust of Australia. The streets of York are lined with buildings both big and small that evoke the essence of the nineteenth century. The main street, Avon Terrace , remains almost exactly as it was in 1911, the year that the spectacular Town Hall was constructed. But behind the main street lie a wealth of historic houses and cottages and places of interest each with its own story and of
666-541: The State Government decided that the line should run through Northam because the distance to Yilgarn was 15 miles shorter and £500 cheaper. The 1968 Meckering earthquake damaged a number of buildings and resulted in removal of the Royal Hotel. Between 1968 and 1971, due to the general downturn in rural activities, and a progressive reduction in railway operations in favour of Northam, many York businesses closed and
703-402: The State. More than 200 buildings or sites in York are heritage listed, most within the town itself. Many of York's older homes and buildings have now been restored and, while some have retained their original use (e.g. the York Post Office ), others have been adaptively re-used with success, such as the former York Primary School (1886). The Principal Architect , George Temple-Poole , was
740-833: The Victorian Romanesque style Anglican Holy Trinity Church (completed in 1854), designed by Richard Roach Jewell ; St Patrick's original church (1859–60); St Patrick's Church (designed in the Gothic Revival style by the former convict architect Joseph Nunan and completed in 1886); and the Uniting Church Chapel constructed in Victorian Georgian style (1854) and the Uniting Church in Victorian Academic Gothic style (1888). The Catholic Presbytery
777-583: The assignment of town allotments at York were gazetted in September 1834 and allotments were advertised for sale from July 1835. A township did not begin to appear until 1836. In July 1836 York comprised two houses, a barn, an army barracks and some out-houses, with about 50 acres of cleared land. The town grew slowly at first due to difficulties with the local aboriginals, as well as problems associated with using English farming techniques in an unfamiliar climate. In 1831, Revett Henry Bland settled in York, and with his business partner, Arthur Trimmer , leased
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#1732894446357814-470: The following years, holding annual shows to the present day. The York Racing Club was established in 1843. Both societies continue today. A shortage of labour was a problem for the farming community, particularly at harvest time. A sandalwood boom in the late 1840s lifted the town. At the request of the influential York Agricultural Society, from 1851, convicts were transported to the Colony and relieved
851-597: The generation of people who lived in them. With its hamlet Bland's Town, York has buildings from each decade from the early settlers (1830s and 1840s), the convict period (1850s and 1860s), the coming of rail (1885), the Gold Rush (1887 to 1900), and the Federation boom, culminating in the York Town Hall (1911). Faversham House , overlooking the north end of Avon Terrace, is one of the grandest surviving Colonial homes in
888-470: The hotel. At the trial, Detective Sergeant Cowie said Ryan confessed to intending to blow up the hotel. Ryan said the explosives were for dam sinking and clearing on his farm. Without retiring to consider their verdict, the jury acquitted him. Later, Ryan sued the Mia Mia Pastoral Co and Abrahams for damages for failing to give a proper demand for £5,550 before selling the hotel and other complaints,
925-452: The labour shortages. As " ticket-of-leave " men, they constructed many of the early buildings. Solomon Cook constructed a flourmill in 1851 and then steam engine in 1852 to power his mill. York was connected by rail in 1885. Following the discovery of gold in the Yilgarn in 1887, the town was teeming with miners, all alighting from the train and preparing to make the long journey across
962-590: The licensees. "The hotel has been planned and constructed on most up-to-date lines, and is a decided ornament to the Terrace, being erected in the centre of the busiest part of the town. The accommodation throughout is admirably arranged, and sufficiently extensive to cope with the demands of the public for some time to come. The bathrooms are lofty and well ventilated, while the private sitting rooms are replete with every comfort and convenience. The well-finished bath-rooms are equipped with hot and cold water services, while
999-637: The main street, Avon Terrace , has Victorian or Federation Free Classical buildings, including the Co-op (IGA) (1888 façade), the York Motor Museum , and Dinsdale's Shoe Emporium (1887) designed by Wright, with a cluster of Federation Romanesque buildings at the north end, including the former Fire Station (1897). Early 20th century buildings include the stunning Federation Mannerist (or Edwardian Opulence) style Town Hall (also designed by Wright, and built in 1911), and an exemplar of Federation Filigree style,
1036-529: The picturesque Avon River and up Mt Brown. The main attractions in the town include: The main attractions outside the town include Australia's oldest racecourse. In addition to the historic Faversham House the town has four historic hotels: Settlers House , the York Palace Hotel , the Imperial Hotel and the Castle Hotel . The town is popular with walkers, cyclists, and photographers. York offers
1073-456: The plains to the goldfields. In the 1880s the question as to whether or not the railway line to the Goldfields should be run through York or Northam was the subject of bitter debate. "Tradition is that State Parliamentarians became so tired of hearing the rival Northam/York arguments that they suggested that representatives of the two towns decide the issue by a game of cards." In December 1891,
1110-547: The population reduced to some extent. York is located in the valley between Mt Bakewell and Mt Brown, known to the Ballardong Noongar as Walwalling and Wongborel. On the road to York in Spring are canola fields which draw many tourists. In addition to its heritage and Arts and Crafts buildings and other architecture (refer below), the town features the York Motor Museum , the Courthouse complex, galleries, bric-à-brac and book shops, skydiving and paragliding, and walks along
1147-410: The sanitary conveniences are modern and complete, the septic tank system being in vogue. The billiard-room is fitted up with one of Alcock's tables and all the latest accessories. An acetylene gas plant supplies the lighting throughout the premises. The furnishing of the hotel was entrusted to the well known manufacturer. Mr W Zimpel, of Perth, and has been very capably carried out." A large music hall
York Palace Hotel - Misplaced Pages Continue
1184-441: The town has fine examples of a dozen other Victorian and Federation architectural styles, virtually uninterrupted by modern buildings. The Victorian Georgian style buildings include the old sections of Settlers House and the Castle Hotel . The Convent School House (1872) is a Victorian Tudor building, the same style as many of Perth's early buildings and also probably designed by Richard Roach Jewell . York churches include
1221-638: The verandah and candle-snuffer roof) and added rooms at the rear. The hotel traded as the York Hotel. After his company went into receivership, the hotel closed in 2012. The hotel was purchased by the current owners and reopened in 2016 as the York Palace Hotel containing the restaurant Alice in the Palace. York, Western Australia York is the oldest inland town in Western Australia , situated on
1258-559: The walk to the goldfields. Today, the town attracts tourists for its beauty, history, buildings, festivals and art. The Ballardong people, a sub-group of the Nyoongar , occupied the land before European settlement. With the increasing population of the Swan River Settlement in 1830, it became evident that suitable land would have to be discovered for the growing of crops needed to provide necessary food. Ensign Robert Dale ,
1295-494: Was added behind the hotel in 1910, constructed by F Sempf. In 1913, the hotel business was sold to Paul Reichardt. Ryan continued to own the hotel property until September 1921. The mortgagee (Louis Abrahams of Mia Mia Pastoral Co) sold the freehold to PA Connelly and Freda Hale. Ryan refused to give up possession of the hotel. He is quoted as saying: "I am not going to budge. He has robbed me of about £5,000. Now to be taken out without house or home, you can guess that it will be
1332-411: Was first settled by Europeans in 1831, two years after Perth was settled in 1829. A town was established in 1835 with the release of town allotments and the first buildings were erected in 1836. The region was important throughout the 19th century for sheep and grain farming, sandalwood, cattle, goats, pigs and horse breeding. York boomed during the gold rush as it was one of the last rail stops before
1369-533: Was successful and was awarded damages of £446 15s. Mia Mia Pastoral Co and Abrahams appealed to the High Court and the earlier decision for Ryan was set aside. In the 1960s, the hotel was owned by the Swan Brewery and its verandah was replaced by a cantilever canopy and the candle-snuffer roofed turret removed. In 1997, the hotel was purchased by John Hay, who carried out extensive restoration (including restoring
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