The Walton's Hotel - a 'Home from Home'

In the years 1908 to 1927 where would the Halifax Progress Association, Halifax Racing Club and the Herbert River Motor Boat Club have their meetings? At Walton’s Hotel, Halifax of course. Where would 20 Masons visiting Halifax to celebrate the installation ceremony of the joint installation of Lodges, Hinchinbrook and Cordelia have supper? Naturally at Walton’s Hotel, Halifax. Where would Charles Muir McCarey and Emily Holland, daughter of Mr and Mrs A. Holland, of Stone River choose to have their wedding breakfast? It was of course, Walton’s Hotel!

In 1908 St. John Robinson negotiated with John Wilson Walton of Walton's Hotel, Cairns, to take over his new hotel at Halifax. Initially to be called the Grand Hotel (and certainly it was grand in structure), it was called Walton’s Hotel. It was located where the Frank X Rupp & Sons, Plumbers business stands today. For most of 1908 to 1927 the licence was held by Walton and he, together with his wife, managed what was “recognised as one of the most comfortable and best managed hotels in North Queensland.”

Cairns Post Monday 9 August 1915, p. 4.

WALTON'S HOTEL.

Walton's' Hotel, Halifax, is recognised as one of the most comfortable and best managed hotels in North Queensland- The house is built on ample lines with verandahs all round and large lofty cool rooms. The scenic surrounding of the hotel are simply delightful, and the views of the Herbert River and Hinchinbrook Island are something to think of, and talk about. The proprietor, Mr. J. W. Walton, with Mrs Walton, see that guests are comfortable and contented, in fact this is a feature of their management, which has made Walton's Hotel spoken of as Home from Home and this is a very, well deserved compliment. The grounds about the hotel with the poultry and dairy farms attached, at once ensure a liberality, which makes for a high class cuisine, and Walton's Hotel is renowned for its excellent table. The house throughout is lighted by gas and spacious bathrooms are on both floors. Good stabling and free paddocks well grassed are provided, the tariff is moderate and in short everything is so splendidly conducted that the hotel can be well recommended. Tourists, especially will find at Walton's Hotel every possible convenience.

After enduring the flood of 1927 when Halifax took on the aspect of Venice with boats moored to buildings, the hotel was sold to Samuel Allen & Sons in June 1927. The new licensee was Mrs M B Rogers.  Only five months later at midday on Sunday 20 November the building burnt to the ground. Windy conditions fuelled an inferno and little could be saved. Mrs Rogers conducted a temporary licensed bar for a time afterwards, but on expiration of the license retired from business. The Waltons retired to Bondi, Sydney. Mrs Rogers died in Halifax in February 1932. Descendants of both the Waltons (Blackburn) and Mrs Rogers (Skene, Lyon, Heard and Rogers) continued to live in the Herbert River district. 

(For a listing of other licensees of the Walton's Hotel, Halifax see Douglas R Barrie, Panorama of Pubs 1872-2017: Hotels Licensed by the Herbert River District Liquor Licensing Court, Bemerside, S & D Barrie, 2018, p.42). 

Source: Douglas R Barrie, Panorama of Pubs 1875-2017, p. 42.

Source: View of Walton's Hotel from Macrossan Street, 1927 flood. Hinchinbrook Shire Library Photograph Collection

Source: Walton's Hotel on fire. Townsville Daily Bulletin,  26 November 1927, p.  9.

Sources:   

Cairns Post Monday 9 August 1915, p. 4.

“Herbert River Notes,” The Northern Miner, 10 June 1912, p. 2.

“Sporting,” Northern Miner, 13 June 1913, p. 5.

“Gossip,” Townsville Daily Bulletin, 30 January 1914, p. 6.

“Herbert River Notes,” Townsville Daily Bulletin, 25 April 1914, p. 9.

"The Rifle," Cairns Post,  5 October 1917, p. 7.

“Herbert River Notes. Fire At Halifax,” Townsville Daily Bulletin,  24 June 1927, p. 9. 

“Fire at Halifax,” Telegraph 21 November 1927, p. 2.

 “Fire at Halifax,” Telegraph, 22 November 1927, p. 4.  

“To-Day's News In Brief,” Brisbane Courier, 22 November 1927, p. 12. 

 Townsville Daily Bulletin, 10 February 1932, p. 3.

Douglas R Barrie, Panorama of Pubs 1872-2017: Hotels Licensed by the Herbert River District Liquor Licensing Court, Bemerside, S & D Barrie, 2018