Community
22 May, 2025
Tour through historical Hexham draws a crowd
THE Mortlake and District Historical Society hosted a successful tour of Hexham which saw the “ghosts of past years” reminisced by those in attendance.
The day involved a tour of the renovated old Criterion Hotel which was then followed by a walking tour of the village of Hexham.
Mortlake and District Historical Society president Robert McLaren said the event was well attended with over forty people coming together for the day.
“The old Criterion Hotel was purchased by Peter and Mandy Stapleton nearly thirty years ago with the hotel in very poor condition,” he said.
“The last occupant of the house was thought to be Miss Evelyn Williams around 1980 and since then the house had deteriorated.
“Mr Stapleton took on a monumental job to bring the grand old lady of Hexham back to life which became a labour of love.”
Mr McLaren said the day began when he gave a brief history of the Criterion Hotel which was built in 1862 by John Tomlinson, one of the leading citizens of Hexham in 1862.
When it was completed, Tomlinson claimed it was the best building in western Victoria at that time.
“Mr Stapleton took those attending through the journey that he and his wife had travelled to wrestle the Criterion Hotel, an 1862 hotel and house, into a twenty-first century standard home,” Mr McLaren said.
“Peter told the crowd that he had grown up in Hexham and the Criterion Hotel and the land it sat on had been an integral part of his youth.
“Hence, when the opportunity arose to own the hotel, he purchased it.
“The range of challenges and tasks that Peter and Mandy had to deal with were significant – Peter did most of the work on the building which saw the rebuild stretch into years.
“Work included the stabilisation of the buildings, which saw Peter become adept at handling, repairing and stabilising bluestone walls.”
Mr McLaren said council approval for the building works took almost two years to be completed.
In 2011 the Hopkins River flooded and put well over a third of a meter of water through the building, but fortunately work on the floors had not yet begun.
He said there was a myriad of other challenges.
“In 2020 Peter and Mandy finally moved into their new home which is also totally self-sufficient for all its energy needs,” Mr McLaren said.
“The living and kitchen areas were opened up for viewing for those who attended.
“There was unanimous agreement that the work completed by the Stapletons was of the highest order and they possessed a stunning home.”
Mr McLaren said the second part of the day was a walk around the Hexham village.
“In 1850 Hexham was destined to be the main town of the district, and the Colonial Government located a police station, telegraph station, post office and set aside land for a Court building,” he said.
“The tour focused on these together with the three churches that were built and finally the small bluestone school.
“The day finished up at the Hexham School which now functions as the Community Hub for the Hexham district.
“The school was again alive with talk, as the attendees reminisced about ‘old Hexham’ and the ghosts of past years as afternoon tea was enjoyed.”
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