ROTHWELL INN RUINS

795 OLD MELBOURNE ROAD LITTLE RIVER, GREATER GEELONG CITY

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Victorian Heritage Inventory

Statement of Significance

• Additional Place Information

  • History

    ROTHWELL INN RUINS - History

    The Traveller's Rest Hotel was built in 1839 and until the late 1840s it was the only building that constituted the settlement of Little River. On 9 January 1852 the hotel was burned to the ground and William Perrin rebuilt the building in 1853, after which it appears to have been known as the Rothwell Inn. (Oct 1999, VC)

    The Rothwell Inn, was originally called the Travellers Rest, and was constructed in 1839, on the road between Geelong and Melbourne, at one of two water crossings on the route. By 1840 it was described as a "commodious dwelling house of 10 rooms" (Port Phillip Gazette 1840). Up until the 1850s, the Travellers Rest was the township of Little River, except for the stations of North and Glass. In 1862, the township of Rothwell was proclaimed. With the announcement of the railway line between Geelong and Melbourne, interest grew in obtaining town lots. However, the line and station moved half a mile north, resulting in the shift in interest. During the 1860s land was sold for farming, but in the 1880s the population dropped from 1500 to 145. The township was never created, but the hotel continued, through to the 1950s when it was burnt out. It covered an acre. It had been burnt in 1852 and rebuilt in 1853. (31/10/01, FW)

    Interpretation of Site

    ROTHWELL INN RUINS - Interpretation of Site

    Two distinctly separate structures are noticable - the bluestone chimney with associated multi roomed structural foundation and a brick chimney which in itself displays three phases of construction and a multi roomed structure. The bluestone chimney appears to be the older of the two buildings. Due to the site's position, the brick lined well is most likely contemporary with the second 1853 building.

    Archaeological Significance

    ROTHWELL INN RUINS - Archaeological Significance

    The site is disturbed. Building materials have been scavenged and there is little doubt that artefact collectors have often picked over the site. Nevertheless, there is good literature available for this site, substantial structural ruins still remain and it is likely that there are insitu deposits of cultural material dating to the earliest stages of the site's occupation. For these reasons the archaeological significance of this site is high.

    Historical Significance

    ROTHWELL INN RUINS - Historical Significance

    As with the archaeological significance, the historical significance of this site is high. The main reasons for this rating are the good quantity of material on the site, and the site's status as an early example of a hotel on the road from Melbourne to Geelong.

    Heritage Inventory Description

    ROTHWELL INN RUINS - Heritage Inventory Description

    Updated description: Two standing chimneys - one bluestone and one brick. Several bluestone foundations indicating two separate structures. Bluestone blocks (dressed stone) are visible across the site area. A brick lined circular (once domed) water well is visible 4 m north of the brick chimney arrangement. 19th century glass and ceramic scatters.

    [Reassessed for the Outer Western Metro Site Reassessment Project - Melton & Wyndham, March 2010]

    Previous description: The visible features of the site include two chimney/fireplaces, structural foundations and a cistern. There are two distinct structures (A & B). Structure A has a bluestone chimney, preserved to its original height. It was constructed of roughly cut and coursed stone, set in a hard lime mortar, cement rendered and plastered. The foundations indicate that this was a multi-roomed structure, with a central hallway and possibly a cellar. No trace of walls above floor level remain.

    To the west of Structure A is a large chimney/fireplace, in a single-roomed structure - Building B. The chimney demonstrates three phases of construction. The original structure was built of small, uncoursed, basalt fieldstones set in mud mortar. Some hand-made bricks also appear to have been used in this phase. Contemporary with this phase of the chimney is the structure of the building, which consists of alarge single room, built of uncoursed basalt fieldstones, set in mud mortar. At a later stage the chimney has been rebuilt, using hand-made bricks and lime mortar. At this stage a three-bay fireplace and new chimeny stack was built. The left hand (eastern) and central bays were used as fireplaces, while the right hand (western) bay did not serve for this purpose (it was probably used to stack firewood). A third phase of the fireplace has utilised modern brick to repair the fireplace on the interior of the structure.

    Subsequent site record:

    Two chimneys, bluestone foundations just above ground level, some building walls and a well. The chimneys correspond to two buildings. The eastern building is largest, with numerous foundations. It was a weatherboard building with verandah, corrugated iron roof and picket fence surrounding. No information on smaller building parallel. A well exists to the north of smaller building. All within 17 x 20m.

    Local significance. The site is of potentially high significance as an early example of a hotel on the road from Melbourne to Geelong and it has potential to demonstrate the development and evolution of the site over a period of time. (Oct 1999, VC)

    Rothwell Inn has been in existence since 1839, and was one of the only buildings or even public houses identified as civilisation along the Old Melbourne Road, for the first two decades of European settlement of Port Phillip Bay. The Rothwell Inn also continued as a public house until the 20th Century, therefore providing the service for over 100 years. The site clearly has very good potential for research - High Potential. (31/10/01, FW)

    Recorded by: Vincent Clark, David Rowe, Fiona Weaver. Date Recorded: Jan 2001 Two structures (ruins), chimneys, foundations, cistern, possible cellar. (Oct 1999, VC)

    1. Eastern building with single fire place bluestone chimney. 2. Western building, small, with triple fireplace bluestone with brickcasing chimney. 3. Well. Below ground domed brick, covered with iron and timber. (31/10/01, FW)

    Integrity: Partially excavated

    Archeological Potential: Although there has been some disturbance of the site and much of the stone has been removed, there appears to be significant archaeological potential. The foundations of both structures remain and there appears to be some depth of in situ deposits. There are numerous historical artefacts scattered across and around the site. The site is of potentially high significance as an early example of a hotel on the road from Melbourne to Geelong and it has potential to demonstrate the development and evolution of the site over a period of time.

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