Welcome back. In case you haven’t noticed, winter’s here.
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As promised, I have a little bit of our history for you today.
So, rug up or snuggle in; I hope you enjoy the story of the Shepparton Hotel.
She served us well — until the end
The Shepparton Hotel was born in Welsford St, Shepparton, (north-east corner of High St intersection — and immediately behind where it was last seen).
Welsford St was where the action was and where the only competition hotel was situated (just across the street.)
The block of land was first mentioned, in our records, as being sold on March 13, 1856.
The land was then purchased by Frederick Knight, a local shopkeeper and, in 1860, the first building was erected, directly opposite today’s police station.
It seems to be an unlikely alliance, but in 1874, the Commercial Bank operated out of the hotel and was our first bank.
John Dooley ran The Shepp in 1876 and it was later purchased by William Fraser.
Mr Fraser had a goal in mind, he wanted to close down his competitor, the Prince of Wales Inn (north-west corner of Welsford and High Sts) which was owned by Fred Archer. (The Prince of Wales was originally Parson’s Inn.)
Now, I’ve come across Mr Archer, in my previous readings; he seems to have been a lively sort of chap.
He owned the first pub, first post office and first butcher shop in Mooroopna.
He also had businesses in Echuca.
Now he was in Shepparton where he owned the punt as well as the Prince of Wales.
He was everywhere. And he was annoying Bill Fraser.
First, Mr Fraser tried to buy the punt – but Mr Archer was suspicious of his intentions and refused to sell.
After some time, Mr Fraser arranged for James Hay to make an offer for the punt and the Prince of Wales (on his behalf) and Mr Archer fell for it; ignorant of the fact that his competitor was the true purchaser. It has been reported that he was not happy.
Hooray for Mr Fraser, I say.
It was around the turn of the century when the proprietor of The Shepparton Hotel decided to expand his hotel to Wyndham St.
We don’t know exactly when Ted Maltby bought the business — but it looks, to me, to be about this time.
In 1908, it was certainly Mr Maltby who added the second story.
Then there is a substantial gap in our recorded history, so I needed help.
The only person I knew, who was involved with ‘The Shepp’ was Chris Georgopoulos (now proprietor of NewsXpress in Riverside Plaza).
The Georgopoulos family leased the hotel from 1983 to 1990; Chris was in his late teens and I was a new, but well-trained, advertising consultant.
We met, at The Shepparton Hotel, every Thursday at 11am. We got on well, and still do, so I gave him a call.
He, in turn, put me on to the Avram family, and — via Sebastian and Vassil — I eventually spoke to John, who had the answers to my questions.
He said that, if we could sit down for a chat, he could give me much more detail.
However, as he is in Melbourne (and I’m not) that wasn’t workable.
We are not sure when Mr Maltby died, however, for some of the latter years, his niece ran the hotel.
The Maltby family sold to the Avram family in 1959, and, over the next 43 years, the hotel had several leasees who successfully ran the business.
It was disclosed in 2001 that ‘The Shepp’ would be auctioned and, in January 2002, it was sold to a local partnership which was undisclosed at that time.
In July of 2004, the renovated hotel — which had been closed for more than two years — was opened to the public.
On December 2, 2007, the top floor of the hotel was extensively damaged by fire.
And we know the rest of the story.
An interesting fact: The hotel carried an inscription for many years — ‘Establish 1860’. The building built in 1860 was a wooden structure on the corner of Welsford and High Sts.
Shepparton’s hotels
The asterix represents fire destruction — but please remember that the early hotels were wooden structures — perhaps even with sawdust floors and fire must have been an on-going potential hazard.
The Shepparton Hotel was, of course, a different circumstance.
Parson’s Inn - later Prince of Wales
The Shepparton Hotel*
Criterion Hotel
Court House Hotel*
Royal Hotel
Commercial Hotel*
Terminus Hotel*
Goulburn Valley Hotel*
Union Hotel* (later The Australia Hotel)
Victoria Hotel
And I’ve added these –
Commodore Hotel/Motel ( later became The Sherbourne Terrace)
The Overlander
The Peppermill
Hope I’ve got them in the correct chronological order.
My husband and I have just been discussing the dates of construction of the last three.
We attended a 50th birthday celebration at The Overlander but are not sure of the year — likely 2016.
I thank the people who assisted with the story of ‘The Shepp’ and please let me know if you are aware of information that I’ve missed.
Well worth a mention
It seems as if — every time we turn around — something else is going up in price.
So, on my last visit to IGA (Poplar Ave), I was surprised to see them still selling their roast dinners for $8 — available from Friday to Wednesday; pork or chicken with gravy, vegies and roast potatoes.
Their pork and gravy rolls have increased in price — by a whole 5c — and are now $5.
Last week, their whole roast chickens were $7.99 on special.
However, when the special ends, they are still under $10 and well below the ‘big guys’.
I’m thinking, in particular, of people living alone; people who are accustomed to cooking for others and can no longer be bothered to cook a decent meal for themselves.
These meals are affordable, even if you are living alone, on a pension.
And I’m also thinking of the local people running this store, able to make their own decisions — and take care of their customers.
God bless them, I reckon.
From the couch last week
The cat (lifting her head from my ‘oh, so soft’ throw and looking at the television) “What did your new P.M. just say?”
Me: “He said he wants this country to become a Republic.”
Cat: “Correct me if I’m wrong, please – but isn’t this a ceremony to honour the Queen’s 70 years?”
Me: “Yes”.
Cat: “I knew he wasn’t the sharpest knife in the block – but where is his sense of time and place, his sensitivity and his judgement, for heavens sake. And I wonder where that adviser is?”
Me: “What adviser?”
Cat: “The one who said ‘Don’t mention the Republic before the election, wait until the Queen’s Jubilee – that would be a good time’. But, just wait, there’s something else on next Saturday 4th. He is naming a small artificial island after her. What an honour for a Queen. He’ll mention the Republic again but he’ll be walking it back – and telling you it is your decision. Just wait and see.
Cat: “If I’m right, you have to find me six pouches of that real tuna — sustainable tuna — that is not mixed with spinach. Okay?”
That’s it, for now. Keep warm and well. I’m still hunting for her tuna.
May it be easy, my friends.
— Marnie
Email: towntalk@sheppnews.com.au
Letter: Town Talk. Shepparton News. P.O. Box 204. Shepparton 3631.
Phone: Send a text on 0418 962 507. (Note: text only. I will call you back, if you wish)
Town Talk