The stunning restoration of the State heritage-listed Guildford Hotel will be unveiled tomorrow, with the official reopening of the building devastated by fire nearly eight years ago.
Premier and Tourism Minister Colin Barnett said the 1886 hotel was the jewel in the crown of the historic town of Guildford and its refurbishment returned a magnificent heritage and tourism asset to the community.
"The cultural heritage significance of Guildford Hotel is beyond its bricks and mortar - the hotel has always been a visual and social focus of the local community," Mr Barnett said.
"Its restoration has been undertaken with painstaking attention to detail and I am sure the hotel will not only be a magnet for locals, but for people from all over Perth who took a keen interest in the plight of the building after it was all but destroyed.
"It was very welcome news when the hotel's owner announced a tenancy agreement with the Publican Group Australia to rebuild and reopen the building as a working hotel."
Heritage Minister Albert Jacob said the Guildford was a fine example of Federation Free Classical architecture, demonstrating the prosperity and development of the area during the gold boom.
"The Heritage Council was involved from the very early days after the fire, providing advice to the owners on measures to stabilise the building and also to recover, catalogue and store artefacts that could be salvaged from the fire," Mr Jacob said.
"The State Government provided help with a heritage grant for $100,000 towards the reconstruction of the roof and belvedere."
The refurbished Guildford Hotel offers a casual atmosphere with a beer garden and an upstairs bar featuring a retractable roof.
The history of the Guildford has been woven into the restored hotel with original tiles, fireplaces, doors and windows retained. Giant jarrah roof beams and charred convict-made bricks have become features of the refurbished hotel.
"I congratulate the owner and the Publican Group for taking on the conservation and refurbishment of Guildford Hotel, sensitively adapting and returning this heritage asset to the community," Mr Jacob said.
Fact File
Premier and Tourism Minister's office - 6552 5000
Heritage Minister's office - 6552 5800
