Fitzgerald Hotel (fmr) (Clarendon Hotel)
The first hotel on this site was called the Clarendon Hotel, which opened in 1886 and was operated by Frederick Pammet. It had sixteen bedrooms, as well as dining room and bar. The Clarendon Hotel was one of the first to install electric lights, telephones and reticulated water.
The Stanley Brewery bought the Clarendon Hotel in 1902, and in 1925, submitted development plans to the City of Perth to ‘rebuild’ the Hotel. Ernest S. Porter, of architectural firm Porter & Thomas, designed a two storey, red brick hotel building in the Free Classical style, which replaced much of the previous hotel.
In the 1920s, the licensee was Steve C. McHenry, who was later more famously associated with the Nedlands Park Hotel. It has been said that a special lounge was established for those ‘professional’ women who worked in nearby Roe Street. Certainly, the Clarendon did have ladies of the night as occasional visitors and, since it was illegal for prostitutes to be on licensed premises, this led to some brushes with the law.
In 1984, the name of the Clarendon Hotel changed to Fitzgerald Hotel. However, the hotel was purchased by the government for road widening purposes, and in 1990 sold to the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Perth. In February 1992, the City of Perth refused permission to demolish the hotel building to construct a two-storey office building on the site and the former Clarendon Hotel is now divided into a number of offices.
The first hotel on this site was called the Clarendon Hotel, which opened in 1886 and was operated by Frederick Pammet. It had sixteen bedrooms, as well as dining room and bar. The Clarendon Hotel was one of the first to install electric lights, telephones and reticulated water. A horse trough existed on the corner outside the hotel until the 1930s. Farmers and market gardeners would tether their horses while en route to the Wellington Street markets.
The Stanley Brewery bought the Clarendon Hotel in 1902, and in 1925, submitted development plans to the City of Perth to ‘rebuild’ the Hotel. Ernest S. Porter, of architectural firm Porter & Thomas, designed a two storey, red brick hotel building in the Free Classical style, which replaced much of the previous hotel. The drawings indicate the original Kitchen, Scullery, Pantry and Store Room were retained, the new section being the main building which survives today. Porter & Thomas had previously designed the prominent Palace Hotel and the Railway Hotel in Perth.
In the 1920s, the licensee was Steve C. McHenry, who was later more famously associated with the Nedlands Park Hotel. It has been said that a special lounge was established for those ‘professional’ women who worked in nearby Roe Street. Certainly, the Clarendon did have ladies of the night as occasional visitors and, since it was illegal for prostitutes to be on licensed premises, this led to some brushes with the law. Another story says that male patrons were attracted to the ‘Roe Street Ladies’ Lounge’, and Steve McHenry was quoted as saying, “I had more fights than feedsâ€.
The hotel continued to serve as a meeting place for local residents, even though the neighbourhood gradually redeveloped for commercial purposes. In 1950, alterations were made to the hotel, including the installation of a new bar, and the incorporation of the bottle shop into the adjoining public bar. Further alterations were carried out in 1952, when the two shops on John Street were converted to a lounge.
In 1984, the name of the Clarendon Hotel changed to Fitzgerald Hotel. However, the hotel was purchased by the government for road widening purposes, and in 1990 sold to the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Perth. In February 1992, the City of Perth refused permission to demolish the hotel building to construct a two-storey office building on the site and the former Clarendon Hotel is now divided into a number of offices.
Daily News 1 March 1886
Truth 13 June 1925