Woodanilling tavern
Built in 1908 and still operating today
WOODANILLING HOTEL
This building took the place of a single storey structure built in 1900 by the owner Elijah Bell. 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. 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.
While those wishing to drink were well catered for with another hotel at Moojebing, those against the consumption of alcohol were equally active. In September 1907, the Temperance League [2] [3] (Woodanilling branch) had its general meeting with the officials being Rev J Smith, Rev W Kennedy, Rev A Gilmour, E Baxter, A Baxter, Mesdames Kennedy, Hobart, Trye, Wilson and Sullivan. The Temperance Movement was strongly supported and some time later a referendum was held on the prohibition of alcohol. The strength and success of the Temperance Union at Woodanilling could be gauged by the estimate that in 1907, out of 86 signatories to the pledge, 76 were known to be still ‘tee- tee’.
Practical jokes were played by the locals on the teetotallers during the monthly meetings. During the September 1907 meeting, one such joker decided to leave the gatherings without their billy. During the merriment of the games being played by the Temperance Union, the ‘joker’ stealthily removed the boiling billy and as he scampered off into the darkness he tripped and amidst ‘horrible dictu’ he fell onto the billy. Unperturbed by this event, the pot was refilled by the teetotallers and a fresh billy was soon singing in time with the merriment inside.
Great Southern Herald – 15 November 1924
The ‘new’ hotel was constructed on the south side of the ‘old’ hotel. It is a two storey structure facing west and the balcony overlooks the railway station and siding complex. In late July 1908 the new hotel was started by the builders, Chapman and Firth, with the cost being 1500 pounds with a further 500 pounds allowed for extras, The bricks for the new hotel were being made at ‘Bellevue’ with the old kiln still visible today.
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Woodanilling tavern