HISTORY

Extract From Newcastle Herald 1891

The handsome block of buildings being erected in Bolton, Church and Watt streets, by Alderman Henry Buchanan, is now well forward, and in a few weeks the major portions of the houses will be finished. From a commercial point of view, the venture is the largest yet attempted in the building line in this city, and is to be hoped that the popular proprietor will reap that reward which his courage and energy so richly deserved.

Newcastle cannot boast of its buildings and it has been a matter fro surprise to visitors that such an important and large city should be so badly off for structures having any pretence to architectural beauty. Of late, however the building trade is very brisk, for, besides the handsome warehouse of Messrs. D. Choen and Co, a fine Masonic Hall has just been completed, and in a few weeks the new Victorian Theatre will be opened. These structures are all very fine ones, and go a long way to improve the city, and their erection will also stimulate other property holders, who will be forced to keep pace with the times. It is now over a year ago since Alderman Buchanan purchased the Presbyterian Church property which runs from Watt St, along Church St into Bolton St, and consists of nearly one acre, with three frontages. He paid $11,000 for it; and having some of the greatest faith in the future of this city and district, he decided to erect a large handsome hotel and a terrace of large dwelling houses. Mr J. Henderson , the architect, drew up the plans, and the work of demolishing the old structures, and putting the foundations for the new structures was done under the supervision of the new proprietor. Building has since been carried on, and the building with its eight houses is nearing its completion.

Some idea of the magnitude of the work will be gleaned from the fact the whole venture will cost upward of $32,000 and 1.2 million bricks are estimated to be the number required for the new structures besides some hundreds of tons of stone. When completed the block will have a frontage of 66ft to Bolton Street, 296ft to Church Street and 189ft to Watt Street, will consist of the Grand Hotel, eighteen three storied nine roomed dwelling houses, and a large boarding house with 32 rooms and those tenants in the terrace who desire to keep a horse may secure one of the stalls in the stable at a very cheap rental. Taking all in to all, the venture is a gigantic one, and it may prove a financial success is the wish of all those citizens who have progress and prosperity of this city at heart.

The hotel is built at the corner of Church and Bolton streets, and is immediately opposite the new courthouse now in the course of erection. It has a frontage of 66ft to Bolton street and 64ft to church street and is four stories high including the Basement. The front is of concrete and Pyremont -coloured plaster, and the building is a very handsome one. On the ground floor at the corner of the structure, is the public bar, which is 20ft square and 13ft high. Off the public bar is a private one, and also an office, which in turn opens onto a spacious hall,24x16.This runs right up through the building, and as there is a glass lantern-shaped roof, light is abundant ; and coolness guaranteed. A handsome wooden staircase runs up in squares to the top store. There are two wide entrances, one from each street, and on the north end of the Bolton Street passages the dining hall. This room is 34x 20,light being given by six large windows. Throughout the building special attention has been given to the ventilation and light, an area running up through the centre of the building giving an abundance of both in addition to that given by the hall. Across this area on each floor are lavatories and bathrooms fitted up in the most modern style hot an cold water being laid on everywhere. A large billiard room takes up nearly 30 square feet of the ground floor and is lighted on every side by seven large windows.Two of the best tables will be placed in it, and the appointment will be in keeping with the rest of the hotel.

Four sitting rooms are also on the ground floor of the hotel. On the second floor are sixteen lofty bedrooms, the walls in each being tinted, some with pink ,while others have shades of blue. A large drawing room ,with a suite of apartments, is also provided; and around this floor a fine balcony runs, which is 12ft wide and 130ft long. Linen presses, cupboards and all the many appointments required in a modern hotel are provided for, the third floor being identical. A feature of the building is the promenade on the roof where visitors may go for cool air or a view of the city or harbour. it is reached from a staircase in the area and goes the whole length of the roof with a width of 20ft.The sight from it is a fine one , and unsurpassed in the city. Last but not least is the basement ,for it is here that the kitchen and servants quarters are located. The former is fitted wit a very large cooking range brisling with knobs and flues, the work of Mr J Ward of Sydney. A modern grilling apparatus, and a complete hot water plant is also connected with the fire place and as the floor is concrete and the walls are stone, danger of fire is reduced to a minimum. A spacious cellar and yard exist in the centre, and around the end are servants bedrooms and dining hall and all complete wit every convenience. When complete,THE GRAND HOTEL for such it is named ,will compare with any outside the metropolis, and for that matter any inside Sydney.

The dwelling houses adjacent are being rapidly constructed, and in a few weeks several of them will be ready for tenants. Facing Church St their will be eleven of them, all built on the same lines, a fireproof wall dividing one from the other. They contain nine rooms and a bathroom, and including the basement they are four stories high. Each room is lofty and well ventilated, while water and gas are laid on .Each has a kitchen in the basement and a large double dining hall on the ground floor. A balcony is built from the second floor of each, and when completed ,the terrace will be a very handsome one. A backyard floored with tiles is given to each; and recognizing the importance of good sanitary arrangements more than ordinary attention has been given to drainage. At the corner of watt and Church streets a large boarding establishment with 32 rooms is to be built and those people who live in such places know that there is a great need for good houses of this kind in the city.

The foundations are finished, and with several of the houses it will be finished by the end of the year. Watt St there are seven houses nearly finished ,and they are much like those in Church St. The only difference being that they have no basement. Alderman Buchanan has already let six of them at a good rental and will experience no difficulty in getting tenants for the others as soon as they are built. Mr Frogley is the contractor for the hotel and Messers Snedden and sons for the Watt St building and they reflect credit for all concerned.