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Some History to Toad Hall Hotel

The Royal Saxon Hotel is the original name of what is currently known as Toad Hall Hotel. It was one of Melbourne’s first hotels — being originally built in 1858 by an early Melbourne settler, William Mortimer. Apparently, William’s descendents kept the property for over 100 years after his purchase of the land.

When the hotel was first built it consisted only of two stories and a cellar; but a third level was added in the late 19th century, as well as an additional accommodation block. The hotel was built on only a small area of the original block of land; and there were many subdivisions and extensions to the property.

The Mortimer Family

William Mortimer was originally from Bradford, Yorkshire — born in 1807. In 1837 he came to Melbourne from Van Diemen’s Land (Tasmania), although there is no record of his arrival and the only records found are of him are giving evidence in the Melbourne Court Register on 27 January 1838. The evidence indicated that he lived just outside Melbourne; then there was a further court record on 31 October 1838, where he was accused of knowingly hiring a servant without permission of the servant’s master. The case was dismissed.

On the 24 December 1839, William married Lily McNicoll who also came to Melbourne from Van Diemen’s Land on the ship Agnes from Hobart on 9 April 1839. They married in the St. James’ Church of England in Melbourne. Lily and William had three children, only one survived the first year, that was William John Mortimer. Before 1853 Lily died, but there is no actual record.

In 1854, William remarried Sarah Hannah Harrup, who had three children: Margaret, James and Alfred (Alfred dying within his first year).

Improving his Land Holdings

William was also the owner and proprietor of the Crown Hotel and a house in Queens Street; plus some land in Seymour and in Warnambool in the 1850s. William purchased a few allotments at the land sales in 1852. He had land in the area of the Old Melbourne Cemetery, the Market and Flagstaff Hill.

Allotment 10 (The Royal Saxon Hotel) was purchased for 420 pounds. Semi-permanent buildings were erected along Elizabeth Street very quickly, due to Melbourne City Council 1850 regulations — because the erection of wooden buildings in close proximity to each other had been ruled out (word is because of the fires that took place a few years earlier in San Francisco).

Records show that William originally had a wooden building of four rooms, and the building was fitted with a galvanized roof. At that point, William’s allotment had at least four buildings on it. On 21 January 1858 William gave a Notice of Intention to build, the hired builder was Samuel Cliff of Collingwood charging a fee of 4 pounds. On 4 October 1858 the building was completed and leased out.

There is no record of why The Royal Saxon Hotel had that name; although, in 1858, two vessels with the name Royal Saxon arrived in Hobsons Bay, there was also another Hotel in Richmond that shared the same name in 1860.

William died on 31 December 1858, due to Atrophy of the Heart, he was buried at the new Melbourne Cemetery. Not long after, in middle January his youngest child Alfred passed away at age 9 months. Extra land was needed at the back of the hotel for carriages, stabling, poultry yard and also a milk cow. A bluestone wall was erected and used as a back wall of the stables.

Upgrades, Extensions & Various Name Changes

In 1885, the rate book shows the 17 rooms were divided into 3 flats, although it was still described as a hotel. There is no record of the top floor or rear extension being built. In 1924, there was 300 pounds spent on alterations, and 250 pounds on fire escapes and 240 pounds for electrical work.

The land was subdivided and there were two separate titles created, and a formal Torrens Title was issued on 22 June 1955. After the new land title the Royal Saxon Hotel was sold to Acland Investments in 1958. Before this sale there was 10,000 pounds spent on renovating the hotel.

The name was changed to Power’s Royal Saxon Hotel; then in 1960, it was changed to Saxon Private Hotel. There was a further change of name to Rendezvous City Guest House; and finally, it became known as the Toad Hall Hotel — to be used only as a backpacker hotel.