Description
The Treasure House: Some of the Story of Menzies Hotel by Fred Archer is a richly local account of one of Melbourne’s most celebrated early hotels. First published in 1969, the 134-page book traces the history of Menzies Hotel from its beginnings in 1853, when Archibald and Catherine Menzies opened their first establishment in Latrobe Street. Archer describes the hotel’s growth alongside Melbourne’s rapid development, particularly during the gold-rush era, when Menzies Hotel became a meeting place for prominent visitors, businessmen and travellers. The success of Archibald Menzies’s gold-mining ventures eventually enabled him to build a much larger and more luxurious hotel at the corner of Bourke and William Streets in 1867.
More than simply a history of a hotel, The Treasure House offers a glimpse into the social and commercial life of nineteenth-century Melbourne. Archer brings together stories of the people who stayed, worked and gathered at Menzies Hotel, illustrating its role as a hub during a formative period in Victoria’s history. The book is particularly valuable as a piece of local and social history, capturing the atmosphere of colonial Melbourne and the importance of hotels as centres of business, hospitality and public life. Today, it is regarded as a collectible Australian history title, with surviving first editions dating from 1969.
In excellent condition including dust jacket.
Dimensions: 22cm x 14cm
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