Chapter XII.
HOTELS AND PUBLIC-HOUSES.
IT has been said, perhaps correctly, that the number of public-houses on a goldfield is an indication of its prosperity. In Charleston district there were about 80 operating at the same time, though records show about double that number of names. Many, however, bore in turn several names, each new licensee giving the building a new name. In numerous cases there were several licensees and several names for the same building, during a year. Also, the same name was given to different buildings at different times; there were, for example, three City Hotels, in different parts of the town, each at a different time; two Royals; two Criterions; two Empires; two Harp of Erins; and two Great Republics.
In 1868 three breweries worked simultaneously, the Star, the Standard, and Strike’s. Later there were two, and later still, only one.
In addition to public-houses and breweries, every store held a wholesale license to sell fermented and spirituous liquors in quantities of not less than two gallons. License fees were, for retail business £30, and for wholesale £10 per annum. Hotels were the recognised meeting-places for all purposes—public meetings, sports societies, cricket and football teams, racing committees, lodge meetings, electoral committees, and even church committees. Prior to the provision of church buildings, services were held in certain hotels, also in the Courthouse. At least one marriage was solemnised in the Melbourne Hotel.
In 1869, with a population of about 12,000, there were at least 80 public-houses—one to every 150 persons, including women. As there were about five males to every female,
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