About the Rose & Crown - A Brief History
1840's
The Rose and Crown holds the distinction of being the oldest hotel in Western Australia and the third oldest licensed hotel in Australia it is heritage listed. Thomas Jecks erected the building when the colony of Western Australia was little more than a decade old. In 1839 Mr. Jecks opened a general store and in 1841 he extended the scope of the business to include a licensed Inn. The main building, known as the Rose & Crown Inn is Georgian in style built from local hand-made bricks laid in a Flemish bond. The steeply pitched roof is built from local and English hardwoods and originally covered in timber shingles. The building has been restored to show it's original details.
"The beams are herringbone strutted, held in position with hand made nails,
rather like the old fashioned horseshoe nails” We know the existing main 2 storey building was opened in 1841 as a licensed hotel. The building sits on approx 2.5 acres of land in leafy Swan Street, Guildford. Its plan is basically symmetrical on the ground and first floors, with a corridor running through the middle of the building on both floors. One room remains our 1841 dining room while the other has been broken into a foyer area and a private dining room. The first floor, originally the managers residence now consists of 4 suites on both sides of the central corridor. These 'Heritage Suites' have been renovated in a classical theme with modern facilities such as spa-baths and plasma TV's.
There are extensive cellars below the hotel, one of which has a well sunken through the floor. Originally there was a tunnel leading from the cellar to the shores of the nearby Swan River to bring in stores from barges. Stories about the tunnel have been rife for many years. The beams which support the flooring for part of the hotel and a section of the restaurant are reputed to be English Redwood and measure a sizeable 20cm by 5cm. These beams are herringbone strutted and held in position with hand-made nails - rather like the old fashioned horseshoe nails. Mystery surrounds an inscription dated 1837 on one of these cellar beams.
1860's Courthouse & Public Meetings
In 1863, the travelling judge held court hearings on the premises and public meetings were also held at the Rose and Crown, with the Inn reportedly making a charge of five shillings.
1880-90's
The single storey building added in 1890, as the east wing of the hotel building, was originally used as the bar, restaurant and lodging quarters for weary travellers. In the 1970’s when the motel accommodation was built and the hotel was renovated this area became a restaurant and ballroom space primarily used for weddings. Today it has become a trendy gathering place for locals and visitors as a restaurant and wine bar - aptly named the 'Posh Convict'.
The stables, built directly behind the hotel with Dutch gable ends facing south and a small turret in the centre at the back were built in approximately 1880 and have an interesting history, having been both camel stables and accommodation for the single men. The stables have been restored to original splendour, for a historic accommodation stayover - as the camels don't come by so often these days.
1970's Motel & Hall Museum
In the 1970's a 28 room Motel and Museum were constructed on the east side and rear of the Hotel. Having undergone a major facelift and redecoration since 2005, the Motel has been now rated 3.5 Star by the RAC.
The Hall Museum once housed WA’s finest private antique and bric-a-brac collections and in the late 1990's enjoyed a stint as a boutique brewery well known for its amazing ginger ale & bullant beer.
This area is currently also going through a redevelopment stage and will add another very large area to the Rose & Crown's existing venue options.
Ghostly Past
It has been said that the spirits of convicts and previous publicans roam the corridors and cellar of the main hotel building.
Media programmes such as 'Postcards' have featured the Rose & Crown and attempted to shed more light on the history of the ghosts. The ABC channel went so far as to send in a 'Ghost Whisperer' who found a number of spirits, however the skeptics have a more scientific view on the often strange events which are part of the Rose & Crown's rich history.
2010 & Forward
Current owners since 2004, Mark & Tracy Weber welcome you to the Rose & Crown and it's many amenities, as a discreet restoration program happens around you creating wonderful new public areas. We hope you enjoy your visit with your family and friends or business colleagues and that you will return often to see and enjoy the friendly hospitality of our staff and the resurrection of one of Australia’s great iconic pubs.