The original Star Hotel was first built as a single storey building in the late 1860s and overtime it was expanded with a second story added. In 1892, Mr William Parker, proprietor and licensee “Completed the thorough renovation of his commodious premises which compare favourably with any country hotel in the colony.” [Walhalla Chronicle, 8 March, 1892]. With the change of proprietors the hotel also changed name. For example from Parker’s Star Hotel to Conlan’s Star Hotel.
The Star Hotel survived the licensing reviews of the early 20th century and was the sole hotel to continue in Walhalla after the closure of the gold mines in 1914. It traded through the 1920s and 1930s and by the second world war was in a very poor state.
Unfortunately, in late December 1951, a faulty hot water service started a fire and the building burnt to the ground. The site was taken over by the Shire of Narracan who built a toilet block on the land and turned the area into an informal carpark.
In early 1997 a development proposal was put forward and a planning permit application made for a new Star Hotel. Walhalla’s Star Hotel was built as an accommodation hotel with twelve large ensuite bedrooms, a guest lounge as well as a restaurant (named after Parker) and bar for the guests of the hotel. The official opening of the hotel occurred on 11 March, 1999.
If you compare photos of Gumnut Gully’s Star Hotel and present days Walhalla Star Hotel you will notice the different configuration of doors and windows. The Gumnut Gully version is based on photos from 1892. Over the years, before the hotel was razed by fire, the front had some changes to the windows, but not as ‘radical’ as the rebuilt version. It has been impossible to find photos of the back of the hotel. There fore what part is not accurate. Likewise, the original colour scheme is unknown. Instead, I have used the modern hotel as a template.
The guest in the beer garden are sitting at tables and benches made of thin slivers of bamboo. Unfortunately, no beers are to be seen and the door to the bar is slammed shut. Until beers are served the song with Slim Dusty is quite appropriate.
