CraigsRoyalHotelBallaratAccommodation - History

1853

Thomas Bath opens The Ballarat Hotel in June 1853

1854

Hotel became known as “Bath's Hotel”

1855?

Eureka Stockade Royal Commission of enquiry into the conflict was held at the hotel

1856

Hotel became temporary Council Chamber for Ballarat municipality while new Council offices were built.

1857

Gas main laid in Lydiard street to supply gas to the hotel. The original gas supply was made from Eucalyptus leaves by a Mr Curtis

1857

Walter Craig purchases Bath's Hotel

1865

American ship the C.S.S. Shenandoah (described as The Confederate Cruiser) visits Melbourne between 25th January and 18th February 1865. The Shenandoah's mission was to enlist recruits for the Confederate Navy and one of those activities was a Shenandoah Ball, held in the main dining room of Craig's hotel.

1867

Queen Victoria's second son Prince Alfred “The Duke of Edinburgh” visits Ballarat and is hosted at Craig's Prince's room specially prepared for the Prince

1867

Noted Australian Poet and horseman Adam Lindsay Gordon enters into arrangement with Craig to conduct the stables at Craig's hotel. Gordon refers to “Craig's pony” in his poem “The Bankers Dream”. Craig's stables had a capacity for 40 horses with 12 looseboxes.

1870

Craig dreams of Nimblefoot winning Melbourne Cup and of his own death

1870

Craig's death in August 1870 and his horse Nimblefoot wins the 1870 Melbourne Cup

1871

Craig's widow died

1873

Hotel sold to George Hawthorn and later to J J Goller

1875

Hotel purchased by J H B Speering and within 2 years sold to Fred Wilkins

1875

The Melbourne Racing Club (formerly The Victorian Amateur Turf Club) was formed by a group of prominent local squatters at a meeting convened at Craig's on 13th October 1875.

1877

New owner George Thompson

1881

Prince Albert Victor and his younger brother George visited Craig's and the goldfields.

1883

1889

The western portion of the hotel in Bath Lane was added for kitchen and servants quarters.

1890

Work began on the corner of Bath Lane & Lydiard Street to replace Bath's 2 storey hotel of 1853 with the corner tower section which was in harmony with Walter Craig's south wing. It took 8 months to complete at a cost to the hotelkeeper William Bentley of £10,000.

1895

Mark Twain visited Ballarat on a world speaking tour and stayed at Craig's. October 21 & 22 - Mechanics' Institute, Ballarat, Victoria, Australia. A number of humorous stories are recorded by Sir Daryl Lindsay in describing the meeting between his father and the famous American author.

1901

The hotel underwent extensive alterations and every room was redecorated in the latest ornate fashion. Fibre plaster ceiling installed in the Prince's room.

1903

E L Bentley sold hotel to Stephen Seward

1907

Hotel put up for auction (rented at 1,200 pounds per annum)

1908

Dame Nellie Melba noted Australian opera singer performs from Craig's balcony of the Reading Room

1926

Craig's became sewered.