The original building of The Colonial was designed by architect Robert De Little for the Launceston Church Grammar school and was constructed by James Fletcher and George Field, costing the princely sum of one thousand pounds. Establishment of the school was largely due to Governor Sir John Franklin, after whom “Guv’nors Table” has been named. The School, which largely shaped the destiny of hundreds of prominent citizens in Australasia, was established when Launceston had only 8000 inhabitants. At the laying of the foundation stone, 2000 of these citizens turned out to witness the grand event.
Henry Plow Kane was the first headmaster. At first, boarder’s fees at Grammar were ten guineas a year for under tens and thirteen guineas for seniors. Five shillings extra was charged for a seat in the church.
In its first year Grammar had 29 scholars who wore “bum freezers” and wide Elton collars as they toiled at the lessons six and a half hours, four days a week with quill and ink. Homework lasted an hour every weekday evening. On Wednesday and Saturday afternoons sport was played in the school grounds. Cricket came first, then after the 1860’s, school football.
Initially the school occupied 157 George Street and then ‘Granville’, High Street, as temporary premises until the school in Elizabeth Street – now restored as The Colonial – was ready. At the time there were no lighted streets; water was carted to the doors. Mail services were limited and uncertain, coaches were the only means of locomotion and the electric telegraph was unknown.
Communication with Hobart Town was made by means of coaches twice a week, which took sixteen hours and ten changes of horses to travel the distance. The fare of the night coach was two pounds where as that for the day coach (Royal Mail) was one pound ten shillings, and one pound outside. Toll gates
were erected at each entrance to the town – Wellington Street and Paterson Plains Road (now Elphin Road).
Bushrangers menaced the highway. The most notorious of these were Martin Cash, Michael Howe and Matthew Brady. Brady’s Lookout, a short drive along the West Tamar Highway from Launceston, was once used by the latter as a hideout. From there he had a clear view of much of the river and also the highway below, along which passed coaches carrying gold from the mines at Beaconsfield.
Electricity reached Launceston in 1895 – another first in Australia. Part of the original turbine can still be seen on the grounds of the Trevallyn power station. In St. John Street. Just a short walk from the Colonial on Elizabeth, is the Jewish Synagogue, the second oldest in Australia. Nearby is Princes Square, where convicts once made the bricks for part of the beautiful St. John’s Church.
To accommodate increasing numbers of pupils, the building has had many additions since the original section was constructed. During the years 1847 – 1923, two thousand pupils passed through the school, seven of which became Rhodes Scholars. Many famous and noted men were pupils at the school and of particular interest are the “Old Boys” names carved in the cedar door and architraves of the rooms.
In 1924, the building was sold by the school and until 1972 was used for accommodation and named ‘Overton House’.
In 1972, the property was purchased and became the Colonial Motor Inn at which time a complete restoration program was carried out and a new three storey hotel suite wing was constructed in the playground of the old school. In 1974, St. John’s Church Hall was converted into three hotel suites (now Hampton Court) by construction with the original hall walls, and ‘Elizabeth Manor’, an eight unit complex was also built. 1975 saw the completion of yet another accommodation wing, known as ‘Tudor Lodge’.
Today the property is a modern and well-appointed accommodation and function centre where many original fixtures have been incorporated to retain the character and charm of the original building.
No building in Launceston has had more historic connections or vivid contrasts then what is now…