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From: "Brian Askew" <>
Subject: [AUS-VIC-GIPPSLAND-L] The Victoria Hotel
Date: Tue, 9 Feb 1999 13:24:23 +1100


Hi Lister's

I thought there might be some who are interested in the facts that I
have managed to obtain about the Victoria Hotel or Coffee Palace as it
was originally know, and as John has already mentioned it was set up
as a temperance business.

1880 Commenced operating as the Victoria Coffee Palace in Collins
St in a building leased from the Victoria Club, which was in
liquidation. Its slogan was "bringing the Country to the City"
this was the first time that the words Coffee Palace was used, and
was later to spread across the world)

1881 Brought the property at 215 Lt Collins St.
1883 Electric Light fitted to Public Rooms
1886 Contract to build 160 bedrooms in Lt Collins St.
1887 Building Completed.
1903 Electric Light fitted to bedrooms.
1912 New Building in Lt Collins St completed.
1928 Morning papers were placed under guests' doors and brown paper
and string for wrapping left in dressing table draws. Staff carried
indentification "so that guests could report any offenders by name."
1934 The new building was completed during Melbourne's Centenary
year - accomodation for 900 guests
1952 The Company's name changed from The Victoria Palace Ltd. to
The Victoria Ltd.
1967 A Liquor licence obtained for the Restaurant.
1988 Obtained full Residential licence.

These are just the bare bones as there have been many other goings on,
with a lot of renovations also happening in the 1980'

If any one would like more info, please email me at
.com.au

Regards Brian

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