Reel™ History, Port Pubs Of The Past Mystery Cache

The cache is not hidden at the listed coordinates but this is a suitable place to park, if you wish to take a tour of the former locations of the Port Pubs Of The Past.

In 1838 the first licenced hotels in the Port Adelaide area were the Ship Inn and Caledonian and located approximately: S 34° 51.453' E 138° 30.025' at the Old Port or Port Misery as it was known.

The hotels were closed  in 1842 just a little after the new port was proclaimed in 1840.

There were 28 licensed hotels in Port Adelaide by 1906 and with the rising power of the Temperance Movement, Local Option Polls were held in six South Australian districts to determine the public’s wishes regarding the reduction or not of the number of hotel licenses.

The vote supported the reduction of licenses and one third of the number were ordered to close.

In Port Adelaide the nine hotels listed below were closed in 1909 due to the Local Option Poll.

Only one of the hotels closed in 1909, The Port Dock Hotel has reopened. In 1986 with a name change to the Port Dock Brewery Hotel.

The images below of Port Pubs of the past are from the South Australian Library Collection. Use the links provided to find the numbers represented by ABC XYZ.

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Map Reference Point 01: Prince's Hotel, 1872

Location: On the corner of North Parade and Mundy Street, Port Adelaide.

Now part of the Port Adelaide TAFE and there is no evidence of the hotel.

Established: 1852

Rebuilt: 1872

Closed: 1909 (due to local option poll).

The photograph is of the hotel after it was rebuilt in 1872,

Use the South Australian Library Collection link Prince's Hotel and find: C

An article in the South Australian Register from Monday 13 January 18C3 details the measurements of the new building.

Map Reference Point 02: Beltana Hotel, (approximately 1870)

Location: North Parade, Port Adelaide east corner of Hare St.

Now part of the Port Adelaide TAFE and there is no evidence of the hotel.

This building was erected for a hotel, to be called the "Beltana Hotel", but no licence was granted.

Map Reference Point 04: Ship Inn, (Approximately 1884 - 1886)

Location:North Parade, Port Adelaide (east of Nelson Street).

Now part of the SA Government Building and there is no evidence of the hotel.

Established: 1840 originally as the Help Me Through The Years Hotel.

Shortly after opening in 1840, the name was changed to Ship Inn.

Closed: 1909 (due to local option poll).

Use the South Australian Library Collection link Ship Inn and find: Z

A researcher has stated that A.Othen was the publican between 188Z-1886.

Map Reference Point 05: Port Hotel, (Approximately 1947)

Location:North Parade, Port Adelaide (west of Robe Street).

Now part of the SA Government Building and there is no evidence of the hotel.

Established: 1840 originally as the Cross Knights Hotel,

Its name was changed often.

1841 The Red Cross Knight Hotel,

1848 The Port Hotel,

The Port Tavern,

1878 The Port Hotel.

Closed: 1951

Some years after it was built the back part of the hotel was destroyed by fire and was rebuilt.

Use the South Australian Library Collection link Port Hotel and find: A

North Parade, Port Adelaide in March 19A1 showing the buildings to be demolished to make way for cargo sheds.

Map Reference Point 07: Brunswick Pier Hotel, (Approximately 1898)

Location: The North West corner of St. Vincent and Robe Streets, Port Adelaide.

The hotel building became a pharmacy for many years and is currently a restuarant.

Established: 1879

Closed: 1909 (due to local option poll).

Map Reference Point 08: Globe Hotel, 1950

Location: South West corner of St. Vincent and Robe Streets Port Adelaide.

The building survives but has not operated as a hotel for some years.

Established: 1850, as the Carpenters' Arms but destroyed by fire in 1864.

Rebuilt: 1865 and renamed the Globe until 1981.

Renamed: 1981, The Golden Port Tavern

Closed: 2006. Currently vacant and for sale.

Location: 91 Commercial Road (east side), Port Adelaide.

Established: 1879

Closed: 1915

Demolished after a 2006 fire

Site redevelopment: commenced in 2018

The Temperance Hotel which was just that – it served no liquor.

Map Reference 13: Wharf Hotel, 1927

Location: West corner of McLaren Parade and Todd Street, Port Adelaide.

There is no evidence of the hotel and the area is now a car park.

Established: 1854

Closed: 1949

Map Reference Point 14: Criterion Hotel, 1932.

There are actually two Criterion Hotels in this photograph. The white one of the left was built in 1932. The other, was established in 1879. The Butterworth and Hancock building sits between them.

Location: Francis St Port Adelaide, North side No. 1 Dock

There is no evidence of the hotel and the area is vacant waiting for redevelopment.

Established: 1879.

Moved: 1932.

Closed: 1951.

Map Reference Point 15: Colac Hotel, 1922

Location: South corner of Santo Parade and Wauwa Street, Port Adelaide,

Established: 1883 but known to be trading before that date.

Closed 2011. Currently vacant and for sale.

Use the South Australian Library Collection link Colac Hotel and find: X

The eastern end of number X Dock at Port Adelaide, South Australia; Dalgety's warehouses can be seen right, and the Colac Hotel on the left.

Map Reference Point 20: Duke Of Wellington Hotel, (Approximately 1900)

Location: The east corner of St Vincent Street and Torrens Place.

There is no evidence of the hotel that was demolished and a restaurant now occupies the site.

Established 1859

Closed: 1909 (due to local option poll).

Use the South Australian Library Collection link Duke Of Wellington Hotel and

find: Y & B

View across an open area, with a crowd adjacent to a fenced-off area, at Port Adelaide. The Duke of Wellington Hotel can be seen next to a butcher. The building was demolished in the Y B_ _s.

Map Reference 22: SA Clubhouse Hotel, (approximately 1926 - 1930)

Location: St Vincent Street south side adjacent to Jervois Bridge.

There is no evidence of the hotel and the location is now a car park.

Established: Originally the Australian Clubhouse Hotel, a galvanised iron building and know locally as the Sardine Tin 1869 to 1878.

In 1878 the building in the photograph was built.

Renamed: The Australasian Clubhouse Hotel 1888 to 1912.

Renamed: SA Clubhouse Hotel 1912 to 1990s.

Closed: 1990s

Demolished: After 1998.

The cache is hidden at: S 34° 50.ABC' E 138° 30.XYZ' with a car park nearby.