Author: Liz Gorman, Emily Pickering
Client: Federal Hotel
The development at the Federal Hotel (heritage item, in the vicinity of other heritage items, and in the Town of Wellington Heritage Conservation Area) aims to increase the size of the ground floor gaming room and add a new accessway for families to move between the bistro and the grassed beergarden via the public bar.
As soon as publican Joseph Shotliff purchased the hotel’s corner site, he began construction of the hotel, with a journalist commenting in November 1893 that: “…Business seems still to be on the increase in Wellington as within the next few weeks Mr. Shotliff is to commence a large hotel near the Court House.” The Federal Hotel was opened the next year on 11 July 1894, when the enthusiasm for Federation was at its height. Joseph’s publican’s license was granted the very same day.