Built in 1900–1901 by John Crothers for proprietor Henry Edward Laslett, the York Hotel in Kalgoorlie, Western Australia, is a historic landmark located on Hannan Street.

Designed by architect Daniel T. Edmunds in the Federation Anglo-Dutch style, it remains a prominent feature of the city’s gold rush architecture, offering accommodation since its construction. Architect, Edmunds, was also responsible for the City Markets in Kalgoorlie.

The hotel continues to operate, offering a mix of heritage charm and modern amenities like Wi-Fi and air conditioning. The York Hotel is part of the rapid development era in the Eastern Goldfields following the initial gold discoveries in the mid-1890s. 

The Kalgoorlie Western Argus reported the opening of the hotel on Tuesday, March 5, 1901.

A Fine Hotel

On Saturday, Feb. 23 was opened the York, one of Kalgoorlie’s newest hotels, and one that must be given rank with the best. It is a top-class house, and is in very good hands.

This hotel is located in that part of Hannan-street, between Wilson
and Cassidy streets which has lately been adorned with a number of admirable buildings, planned and designed by the architect for the York Hotel, Mr. D. T. Edmunds. In connection with this particular hotel the architect was given something like fair, scope as regards the money available for the building, and the net result is a structure that externally and intern ally marks the advent of a new epoch in hotel-building, as against the primitive goldfields method of making bars the first and chief consideration.

Elegance and comfort have received careful attention in the case of the York Hotel, and in all departments artistic work is apparent. Situated a short distance from Cassidy-street, on the south-western side of Hannan-street, the hotel has its public bar in the centre, with main entrances to the public and residential sections of the house, at the ends nearest Wilson and Cassidy streets respectively. The general public bar it self is as artistically appointed and decorated as it is spacious.

A novelty and beauty of design are features of what has been wrought in metal, wood, paper and paint, in this bar. From the western entrance-on the ground floor-access is given, first to, the tap room, attached to the bar, then to a couple of neat and pretty parlors, parallel to the street line, and separated from the bar by a hall passage to the stairs, which lead to the billiard-room on the first floor, and further back to an open air lounge and the saloon bar.

The eastern main entrance brings the visitor to a luxurious lounge hall, from which rises the main staircase leading to the residential portion of the hotel. The stairing is built up in a remarkably artistic way, with a single flight to the first landing, two side flights, and above that a bridge. Over all is a very handsome circular dome which admits plenty of light. Between the private entrance and the bar on the street front, are offices for the manager and secretary, with a doorway from the lounge and stairway hall. Beyond the hall is the dining room, with a lobby of its own flanked by a lavatory. This dining room, 40 x 20ft. in size, and of proportionate ceiling height, has adjoining it on the rear, a serving room and a room for the storage of glassware, china, etc. Behind these rooms on the ground floor is the laundry. Crossing the passage, which runs down the centre of the building, one comes to the roomy kitchen, furnished with an 8ft. range, grill, etc., with a scullery and store-room adjoining at the rear, and a larder and servants’ hall on the other side nearer to the front.

Proceeding further towards the street one comes to the saloon bar, before mentioned, and which has at its inside doorway a cosy, properly furnished alcove, opposite to the stairway which leads up to the billiard-room. On the first floor there are on the extreme forefront, four bedrooms, one at each end, with a balconette of its own leading on to the main balcony, and two in the centre, flanking the chief passage on to the balcony, with a sitting-room and a smoking-room, with bay fronts intervening. At the rear of these apartments there are on the eastern side a liquor closet, a bathroom (for hot and cold water) while on the far side of the main stairway is ‘the billiard-room, 47ft 3in. x 2oft. 4/in., which has its separate approaches by another stairway previously referred to, also a separate lavatory.

On the right, or western side of the building, there are ten bedrooms with quite a number of store rooms and linen closets at suitable locations. As on the ground floor a main passage runs down the building along the centre for its whole length. At the extreme rear are a balhroom. and o-:her necessary conveniences. There is also a rear bal cony with a servants’ staircase from the ground floor. So much for a scant sum mary of the allocation of space. In the decoration of the interior, money seems to have been lavishly spent, and to admirable effect.

Among the most notable features is the wide variety of artistic design and beauty of coloring of the stamped steel ceilings. Rich hued and finely carved wood work also calls for special mention. In no part of the hotel is there anything for simply garish display. The combination of tasteful artistic harmonies and contrasts seemed to have been arrived at. In its draperies and furniture each apartment appears to have been separately studied with no stint of costly material.

The entire furnishing has been placed in the hands of the well and favorably known Bickford’s Coliseum firm, of Perth, who have paid due respect to the climatic conditions that exist here.

The admirable painting work, which includes even artistic flower paintings on the panels of the decidedly luxuriant upstairs sitting room, was clone by Melsrs. Beeler and Marne, while Messrs. Hircher and Tatham carried out the installation of the electric light, and of the electrical bell fittings throughout the hotel.

Mr John Crothers was the contractor for the erection of this fine hotel, which is, of course, built of brick and stone, while for bases granite blocks have been employed. It remains to be said that the York Hotel has been placed under the management of a well experienced gentleman, who should command success in business — Mr. Peter McLachlan, for a considerable time manager of Phair’s Hotel, Collins-street, Melbourne. He has engaged as chef M. Rinaghi, so the culinary department should be without fault.

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