Maldon - High Street Traders Walk
Discover some of Maldon's rich history as you explore our historic buildings, places and streetscapes. If you explore with the mobile app, each location reveals its story through 'then & now' images and text.
Maldon's wealth of historic buildings dates from the 1850s gold rush through to the 1920s. The early gold discoveries left the town with an elongated and irregular layout set between vast mining operations. High Street passed by many houses, mines, commercial activities, the Gold Commissioner's Camp and civic centre. The wide tree-lined thoroughfare you see now belies Maldon's gritty past. Your walk around the historic High Street business precinct will introduce you to a cross section of Maldon's traders and their premises.
Start this tour at the Kangaroo Hotel, cnr High & Fountain Streets. You can proceed stop by stop south down High Street to Spring Street, cross over and then come back up High Street to the Grand Hotel.
Kangaroo Hotel, 1866 & 1905
89 High Street, Maldon
A 'Kangaroo Hotel' has operated on this site continuously since 1856 and included its own amusement theatre, one of 3 in town during its heyday. It narrowly avoided disaster in 1859 when someone set off fireworks during a performance and almost burned the building down. The brick corner section of the current building dates back to 1866 and it includes the contrasting trim and quoin work featured on other 1860s brick buildings in Main Street. This is the only Kangaroo Hotel in Australia.
The charming barrel-roofed entrance awning on the High Street entrance was added c1905 at the same time as the extensions to the south.
The Pettitts took over in 1884. The liquid refreshments, conviviality and Saturday night entertainment continued, much like today. From the 1860s the Kangaroo was the local 'changing station' for Cobb & Co. The approaching coach driver would sound a horn so the ostlers could have the fresh horses ready.
For the next site:
Follow the stops along the west side of High Street down to Spring Street.
Lost Streetscape, Then & Now
81 - 87 High Street, Maldon
There were 5 timber shop buildings in this section of High Street. These are clearly visible in an 1867 image of the area but they had all been demolished by the 1930s. At this time the town was in serious decline along with many other former mining towns so the land remained vacant until the present buildings were constructed.
By 1867 five small timber shops occupied this section of High Street. Early businesses included a hairdressing salon and pharmacy which advertised 'garden seeds and fresh healthy leeches' among its wares. By 1900 a bootmaker, chemist, storekeeper and draper are noted in the records.
The Community Bank building was constructed in 2013. The original building design was the subject of considerable controversy and seen as inappropriate for the centre of historic Maldon. A VCAT order saw the design altered to better meet the requirements of the Maldon Design Guidelines.
The Country Fire Authority Building was constructed in 1957 on the site of the 3 small timber shops. The building has been extended a number of times since 1957.
Commercial Hotel, 1867
79 High Street, Maldon
This early weatherboard building of modest scale and pleasant form was originally Handorff's Commercial Hotel. Prior to 1872 any person of good character could request a license if he or she had three rooms (bar, parlour and bedroom) in addition to those required for personal quarters. The hotel operated until 1910 when its license was revoked under the Licenses Reduction Act.
Now the building has been very carefully restored and is a very appealing example of Maldon's early timber structures. Note the unusual 'flat' finials on the gable ends.
By the 1970s a doorway between this building and the adjoining property had been established to form one business space. This explains the 'boarded up' appearance of the front door.
Argyle House, c1866-67
73 - 77 High Street, Maldon
Construction on Argyle House commenced in 1866 however a parapet collapse delayed completion until 1867. This single-storey building has an unusually high parapet which conceals a steeply-sloped skillion roof form. The premises were used as offices and shops and they replaced timber structures constructed in 1859 and 1860 as the early gold rush passed and town became more settled.
By the 1970s the row of buildings was only in fair condition. The front of the southern shop had been radically altered and it was ripe for restoration. Now the row of buildings is looking good, the facade of the southernmost shop has been restored. Various recent changes are evident in colour schemes and minor alterations as owners or tenants personalise their space.
Hornsby's Buildings, c1900
67 - 69 High Street, Maldon
This simple red brick pair of shops plus upper level accommodation was constructed c1900 on the site of earlier timber structures. It sits well with its neighbour to the north even though constructed decades later. Records indicate that both buildings were constructed by the same builder, John Hornsby who figured prominently in the construction of many buildings and mines.
Carriers Arms Hotel, 1857
61 - 65 High Street, Maldon
This is one of Maldon's oldest buildings. It is a simple Georgian-style building and remains largely intact apart from relatively minor modifications to the windows prior to 1900.
The licenced hotel only operated for a short period (c1857 to c1864) but continued as a temperance hotel to 1884, then for several decades the building was a doctor's surgery and residence.
In 1860 the building would have provided welcome respite from the rigours of travel on the gold fields. The south end, with the larger window would have been the hotel section and the rest private quarters. The premises was also the base for the first coaching service between Maldon and Castlemaine operated by owner, Robert Aitken and his business partner David Marshall.
Bank of New South Wales, 1858
59 High Street, Maldon
The former Bank of NSW complex consisted of the banking chamber (1858), an adjoining residence (1864) and smelting house (1866). The construction of such a substantial building with fine quality fittings was seen as proof of the increasing prosperity of the district. By 1870 the original face brick work had been plastered over, possibly because poor quality bricks had been used.
This bank and the Bank of Victoria at View Point handled much of the gold buying trade in the area, although several local business people acted as agents for other banks.
By the 1970s the building was occupied by the Commercial Banking Company of Sydney which merged with National Bank of Australia in 1982 to become National Australia Bank (NAB). A pale paint scheme had been applied and details such as the upper parapet moulding removed and fences modernised.
Now the building no longer houses a bank. In recent times it has been an antiques shop and is now a private residence. The window and door treatment are still a very interesting feature.
Warnock's Beehive Store, c1858
51 - 57 High Street, Maldon
The Warnock Bros Beehive Store building was developed between 1858 and 1863. By the 1870s the finely detailed building boasted four large departments: grocery, drapery, ironmongery, and footwear. In response to a shortage of 'small change' on the gold fields, many businesses including Warnock Bros, issued their own trading tokens or local 'pennies'.
The local newspaper described the store as 'a leviathan in both proportions and importance', and its cedar framed windows with their large expanse of plate glass were considered remarkable.
By the 1940s the building housed a garage and bus depot and things looked different on the outside. Fortunately many original features including shopfronts remained. By the 1970s the building was much less recognisable with its parapet now covered with asbestos cement sheet and the verandah removed. Now the building is once again an important element in the streetscape. The verandah has been reconstructed, the colour scheme and signage complement the character and appearance of the building, all in all a great example of restoration guidelines in action.
Freemasons' Hall, 1908
49 High Street, Maldon
The former Freemasons' Hall building is part of Warnock Bros Beehive Store, thus the body of the building was constructed c1858 however the facade was altered in 1907-08. This facade was originally unpainted with plaster trim which highlighted its classical details. It was used by the Southern Cross Lodge until the mid-1980s.
By the 1970s the face brick work had been painted over reducing the impact of the features, and parts of the authentic slate-paved footpath were in need of some work.
Now the facade is once again unpainted with contrasting trim. The two small display windows were added after the Freemasons moved out to their new premises.
Warnock's Flour Mill, 1873
39 - 47 High Street, Maldon
The two-storied brick building, constructed in 1873 was Warnock's Flour Mill until around 1900. The mill was accessed via a rear lane which comes in at second storey level. As might be expected it was a solid building and its verandah seems to have been used for storage. Digging the foundations must have been difficult as the builders left a huge piece of hard rock protruding from the floor.
Now the former flour mill building is now used as shops and / or residences and has been for 116 years. Although the verandahs are not original they are sympathetic with the building and the streetscape.
Langslow's Building, 1898
31 - 37 High Street, Maldon
This red brick building consisting of 4 shops was constructed in 1898 on the site of earlier simple timber buildings. These buildings had housed a tobacconist, bank, and hotels at various times from the late 1850s. In 1873 the hotel ceased operating after a covenant forbidding the sale of spirits was placed on its title. The current building was occupied by various retailers into the early 1900s and beyond. The building went though some quiet times due to its position on the edge of town. It was a residence in the 1970s. Now the building is once again occupied for business purposes.
For the next site:
Cross to the other side of High Street to continue the tour and follow the stops up the east side of High Street to the point where it joins Main Street at McFarlane's Drapery Building.
Royal Hotel & Theatre, 1862 & 1857
14 - 20 High Street, Maldon
The Royal Hotel and Theatre are two of Maldon's earliest surviving buildings. The concert hall was built in 1857 and the hotel in 1862 when it replaced the original timber slab structure. They were designed by David R. Drape, architect of many fine early Maldon buildings. The hotel was operated by the Page family for 51 of its 67 years as a hostelry, and the hall was an entertainment hub offering regular performances and attractions. It was one of 3 amusement theatres in Maldon at the time and Saturday nights could be a busy time for the local constabulary. In 1975 the former hotel bar was used as a set for the movie 'Break of Day'.
Extensive restoration work was carried out in the late 1990s. The redecorated interior of the theatre hall is well worth a look. Now the hotel is once again in the hospitality business and the small lolly shop on the north end occupies the former carriageway.
Grand Hotel & Shops, 1888
22 - 26 High Street, Maldon
This ornate 'boom' style single-storied rendered brick building was constructed on the site of an earlier hotel by Robert Oswald, a local mining magnate, presumably as an investment. It was sold by his trustees to the Maldon Brewing Company in 1911, a wise move considering the downturn to come. Beware those metal spikes on the window sills designed to deter loitering there.
By the 1970s much of the fine elegance of the facade had been replaced with a more severe scheme of colours, advertising signage and altered shop facades. Note the unusual window shapes and surface treatment on the south end shop. Now the building looks more like it did in the 1890s although the original harmony and elegance of the features has not yet been fully regained.
For the next site:
High Street ends at this point and the next building to the north is included in the Main Street tour.
Credit: Tours and information by the Maldon Museum
Photos:
Location
Cnr High Street and Fountain Street, Maldon 3463 Map
Web Links
→ tours.maldonmuseum.com.au/index.php/mobile/walks/5
