LIVE AND LET LIVE INN, ORGAN PIPES NATIONAL PARK

724 CALDER FREEWAY KEILOR NORTH, BRIMBANK CITY

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Victorian Heritage Inventory

Statement of Significance

• Additional Place Information

  • History

    LIVE AND LET LIVE INN, ORGAN PIPES NATIONAL PARK - History

    The discovery of gold in Victoria in 1851 was the catalyst for an unprecedented influx of newcomers from both within the Australian colonies and from overseas. One of the two main routes taken by diggers and travellers to the goldfields in and around Bendigo, passed through Keilor and across the infamously dangerous and hostile Keilor Plains. A number of hotels were soon established by enterprising individuals along this track, to cater for the hungry and thirsty hordes and to provide limited and often basic accommodation for man and beast alike. Two of the early 'goldfield' hotels established on the road west of Keilor were the Galloway Arms Hotel and the Live and Let Live Inn.

    In 1854 an American of African descent named Charles Moseby was advertising for a blacksmith for his business at Keilor Plains. By December he was requiring both a blacksmith and a cook. (Ref: The Argus 25.9.1854 p18; The Argus 20.12.1854 pfl). In April 1855 Moseby was described as the 'keeper of a refreshment tent on the Keilor Plains ' (Ref: Port Phillip Herald 11.4.1855). After being held up by bush rangers in April 1855, Moseby was described as keeping 'a refreshment tent and blacksmith's shop a little beyond Keilor'.

    The inn appears to have been built around 1856 when in a case brought before the District Bench in March of that year, Moseby was described as 'the keeper of a board and lodging house on Keilor Plains '. (Ref- The Argus 27.3.1856 pI5). In 1857 Memorial No. 585 Book 47 provides the following information - 'Live and Let Live Hotel Lease of land with the inn, stabling, outhouses, yards, Part Allotment A Section 27, about 20 acres with free ingress and egress for his workmen and servants and right of way for drawing water from the paddock of James Robertson to Charles Mosely (sic) for £104 payable quarterly'.

    By 1859 Moseby had been declared insolvent citing 'falling off in business' as one of the causes, but later regained his license and the inn continued to operate until at least February 1862. After that date there is no further mention of Moseby nor of the inn and blacksmiths shop.

    This inn was also referred to as The Diggers Retreat.

    Interpretation of Site

    LIVE AND LET LIVE INN, ORGAN PIPES NATIONAL PARK - Interpretation of Site

    The identification of rough bluestone flagstones is possibly the floor of the blasksmith shop or those pertaining to the ca. 1856 Live and Let Live Inn. The site seems to have been associated with additional stabling, outhouses and yards.

    Archaeological Significance

    LIVE AND LET LIVE INN, ORGAN PIPES NATIONAL PARK - Archaeological Significance

    The site may contain sub-surface material evidence oth the time including commerical and domestic material (china, bottles, buttons, tools and building material).

    Heritage Inventory Description

    LIVE AND LET LIVE INN, ORGAN PIPES NATIONAL PARK - Heritage Inventory Description

    Located within the Organ Pipes National Park and parallel to the Calder Freeway, is a series of rough bluestone flagstones pertaining to the possible c.1856 inn (Live and Let Live) and/or blacksmith shop.
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