OBJECT TITLE / NAME

Royal Hotel, Beach Road, Mornington

DATE1900 to 1920

MEDIAImage

COLLECTIONMornington and District Historical Society

REG NO.1242.9

HISTORY

A landmark in Mornington, Rennison’s Schnapper Point Hotel was built in the late 1850’s and renamed the Royal Hotel in 1876. It is situated at 770 Esplanade. By 1863 the Hotel offered 22 accommodation rooms increasing to 65 rooms by the 1870’s with a garden and stables on three and half acres. The substantial stables demolished in 1970 and yard were once the depot for Cobb and Co. Coaches. In 1891 a billiard room and public hall were added. Extensive restoration to the facade and verandahs was completed in 1984. An undergound tunnel since filled in, between Royal Beach and the hotel was used for transferring goods from ships the the hotel. Opposite the hotel on Royal Beach was once a windmill that was used to pump seawater to the hotel for hot and cold baths.

DESCRIPTION

This shows the Royal Hotel on the right of the image. It is a magnificent two storey rendered building with ornate iron work to both verandahs. In the centre of the top storey is a decorative pediment showing the name of the hotel. On the roof are decorative stone urns. In the centre of the image is Kirkpatricks Hotel. There are two motor vehicles in the front of the Royal and they are full of people. There is a third vehicle parked outside Kirkpatricks, and three women walking along the road.

SUBJECTS

Accommodation, Historic buildings, Hotels, Windmills

KEYWORDS

Accommodation, Esplanade, Historic buildings, Hotels, Mornington, Royal Hotel, Windmills