PLENTY BRIDGE HOTEL & TOLL HOUSE

2 MAIN ROAD LOWER PLENTY, BANYULE CITY

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Victorian Heritage Inventory

Statement of Significance

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  • History

    PLENTY BRIDGE HOTEL & TOLL HOUSE - History

    IT IS UNDERSTOOD THAT THE HOTEL WAS CALLED BRIDGE INN INITIALLY. A DETAILED HISTORY OF THE SITE WILL BE PROVIDED TO HERITAGE VIC AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. THE PLENTY RIVER BRIDGE HOTEL WAS A STOPPING POINT FOR COBB & CO COACHES, TRAVELLERS AND DROVERS ON THEIR WAY NORTH VIA ELTHAM. THE AREA AROUND THE HOTEL IS ONE OF THE EARLIEST RECORD SITES OF EUROPEAN SETTLEMENT OUTSIDE MELBOURNE. THE HOTEL IS LOCATED BESIDE THE HERITAGE LISTED ROAD AND RECENTLY RESTORED BRIGHT.

    Interpretation of Site

    PLENTY BRIDGE HOTEL & TOLL HOUSE - Interpretation of Site

    The area is of major historical significance in terms of early European settlement and as early as 1837 was part of the sheep run of Edward Willis.

    The 1985 Heidelberg Conservation Study - historical riverland landscape assessment by loader and Bayley (McBriar 1985), identifies the sire of Edward Willis' hut as just east of the Old Lower Plenty Bridge and it is likely it is located within the proposed development site. It is considered of major historical significance as one of the earliest recorded sites of European settlement near Melbourne and is listed in the 1841 census as a wattle and daub hut with ten inhabitants.

    The 1990 archaeological survey of Lower Plenty River Valley (Weaver, 1990) advocated the collective significance of the individual sites of the Lower Plenty Valley in terms of early European heritage and the importance of further investigation and identification of the sites. It recommended the continuation of McBriar's work including examination of areas for substructure archaeological remains.

    The site of the Old Lower Plenty River Hotel and Toll Shed is immediately adjacent to the proposed development and can easily be identified by old photos and comparison with the poplar trees and red river gum still growing near the site and is again an important local heritage site.

    Heritage Inventory Description

    PLENTY BRIDGE HOTEL & TOLL HOUSE - Heritage Inventory Description

    Site of original hotel and toll house. On eastern side of Old Lower Plenty Road (H7922-0090) and near the Old Lower Plenty Road Bridge (H7922-0089), on eastern bank of Plenty River. Site can be identified from photos taken prior to the hotel burning down as poplar trees have survived on the site.

    Site has remained undisturbed for many years - likely foundations and substructure remains of and artefacts from hotel.

    Physical Conditions:

    Vacant crown land, overgrown with vegetation.

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  • OLD LOWER PLENTY ROAD 1, BRIDGE

    

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  • OLD LOWER PLENTY ROAD 2, ROAD

    

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