The Federal Hotel was born out of the ashes of the Welcome Home Hotel.
The 9 August 1909 Oak Street fire destroyed the Welcome Home Hotel. When the hotel was rebuilt and opened in May 1910, its name was changed to the Federal Hotel.
Mrs Mary McIntosh owned the business. In April 1910 Joseph Campion was licensee while the new hotel was being built.
Mr William Kemp held the licence from 1910 until his death in June 1911.
After his death Mrs Hannah Kemp took over the licence, holding it until 1917 when Mrs McIntosh resumed control.
Description of Federal Hotel
The Western Champion’s reporting of two separate incidents that occurred in the Federal Hotel while Hannah Kemp was licensee are interesting reads. The first in August 1916 was entitled “Biffing” the Cook, and the second in July 1917 for an alleged breach of the liquor licence ended up in court. Both reports are rich in detail – a rare thing today.
25 August 1917 Transfer of license for Federal Hotel from Mrs. Hannah Kemp to Mr. Charles Frederick McIntosh.
In 1919 Mrs. Weakly handed over proprietorship of the Federal Hotel to her daughter, Mary Louise and son-in-law, Mr Walter Griffith. In April 1920 the license was transferred from Mr. Walter Griffith to Emma Mary Griffith.
By 1923 Mr Patrick Breen held the licence. He appears to have had his share of court appearances.
He transferred the licence to Mrs Alice Margaret Humbler in September 1925, and in January 1928 it was transferred from Mr C J Humbler to Mr R J Alm. By 1930, Mr Alm had been declared bankrupt and Mrs Lowth had taken on the licence. She held it until at least 1935.
Mr M. Rawlings was licensee in early 1940 until the hotel was sold in February to Mr Joseph Bradly.
On 28 November 1942 Mrs. Ray Cahill (formerly of Royal Hotel, Aramac and daughter of the late Mr. Owen Devery) took over the Federal Hotel.
On 30 September 1949 it was reported that the Federal Hotel had been sold to Mr. Oldfield.
Federal Hotel Fire 1962
The Federal Hotel was totally destroyed in a 1962 fire.
The licensee was Frank Armstrong, and he and his wife and family of three children were lucky to escape the blaze by using a fire escape that led onto Oak Street. The family saved only a few personal items and clothing. Armstrong had only been in the hotel six months prior to the fire.
The fire started on the top floor, and after an hour-long fight by the fire brigade, the top walls fell and the flames spread to the ground floor.
The hotel was never rebuilt.
