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Photographers can’t go past this pub in Coolgardie, Western Australia
Built in 1898, the two-storied brick and iron Marvel Bar hotel is a classic example of early Federation Free Classical architecture in Australia and has got to be Coolgardie’s most photographed pub.
The pity is, it hasn’t been licensed since 1927!
Situated along the main thoroughfare, Bayley Street in Coolgardie Western Australia, the Marvel Bar Hotel was originally a shed like building made of galvanised iron (c. 1892). It’s publican Jack McGregor made the hotel rather popular as it was a welcoming place for the early goldrush miners with a relaxed dresscode and free meals for those down on their luck. In keeping with the show of wealth in boomtime Coolgardie, the building was demolished and rebuilt as a two-storied hotel in 1898. Unfortunately for the new publican Mick Moran, strict liquor licensing laws meant that the pub lost it’s license to operate as a hotel and subsequently the license was not renewed in 1927. Aside from some weathering to the paint and damage to the render, little has changed about the appearance of this building since then. This grand building was added to the Heritage Register in 2012.
A quick survey of Instagram proves that the Marvel Bar Hotel makes a popular photo subject out of the 23 heritage listed buildings that still stand in Coolgardie today. Although the building doesn’t operate as a public pub it is the home of the Coolgardie RSL sub-branch and hosts social nights, a Christmas function and the yearly ANZAC service.
Coolgardie is the starting point for the 965km self-drive Golden Quest Discovery Trail. Whilst you are on your journey, be sure to upload your pic of the Marvel Bar Hotel and add it the growing catalogue of images of this fine goldrush-era watering hole.
Top 10 Instagram photos of the Marvel Bar Hotel in Coolgardie.
Want to get on the Golden Quest Discovery Trail and check out the old architecture from years gone by? Download the app or check out the trail here.
The original photographer retains copyright of the uploaded images. If you’d like to use an image for your own content, please click through to Instagram to make contact with the owner.