Woodanilling Inn
Elijah Bell [2] opened the first hotel in Woodanilling when he applied for a Wayside House Licence in 1901 to operate out of a single storey structure he built in 1900.
Below is his Notice of Application
Elijah Bell
West Australian
20 February, 1901
Public Notices.
APPLICATION for a WAYSIDE HOUSE LICENCE.
To the Worshipful the Justices of the Peace acting in and for the District of Katanning in Western Australia.
I, ELIJAH RICHARD BELL, single farmer now residing at Woodanilling in the district of Katanning, do hereby give notice that it is my intention to APPLY at the next Licensing Meeting to beholden for this district, for a Wayside House Licence for the sale of Fermented and Spirituous Liquors, in the house and appurtenances thereunto belonging, situated at Woodanilling, on Sub. 115, facing railway, also Burt Road, containing ten rooms, having three bedrooms, and two sitting rooms, exclusive of those required by family, new building, my own property, and which I intend to keep as an Inn or Public house. I have not held a licence.
Given under my hand this eighth day of February, one thousand nine hundred and one,
ELIJAH RICHARD BELL.
HOUSEHOLDERS’ CERTIFICATE for a WAYSIDE-HOUSE LICENCE.
We, the undersigned, householders; residing within the district of Katanning, do hereby certify that the above Elijah Richard Bell, of Woodanilling, is a person of good fame and reputation, and fit and proper to be licensed to keep an Inn or Public house for the sale of Fermented and Spirituous Liquors therein.
Witness our hands this eighth day of February, one thousand nine hundred and one.
Harry Stevens.
Edward F. Cooper.
A. Keirle.
G. A. Wilson.
John H. Colquhoun.
By June 1908, the original hotel was thought to be unsuitable and a license was applied for new premises to be built alongside the existing building to be called the Woodanilling Tavern. The old hotel looked more like a house than a hotel. At this time there were rumours that a woman was interested in building a hotel south of the station adjoining the west side of the railway line. The tougher licensing laws coming into vogue may have seen Bell’s licence revoked in favour of another application if the existing hotel was not up to standard.
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