About The Carlton Hotel
The CARLTON HOTEL is significant both as a unique example of an important boom in the Australian hotel industry and as a wholly Geelong designed and built structure. Its major importance is to the local community because it represented what Geelong was capable of achieving at the time.
Originally built in 1849 as the Union Club, it underwent extensive renovations in 1936 to re-open as the Carlton Hotel in February, 1937.
The Carlton Hotel is the product of an Australia-wide four-year boom in the Hotel industry, which started in 1936. The breweries were responsible for most of the new hotels during this period, the Carlton itself being financed by Carlton & United Breweries Pty. Ltd. The architect was Norman E. Schefferle of the Geelong firm Schefferle & Davies. The exterior of the hotel clearly expresses the characteristics of hotels during the late 30's period demonstrating strong horizontality with modern ideologies.
The Carlton Hotel was a showcase for Carlton & United Breweries, hence it's "elaborate scale". The interior was fitted out with very high quality finishes, furniture & services. It also had 40 lettable rooms, servant accommodation, two bars, a lounge with adjoining dining room, ladies room, entrance hall, reception room and banquet hall.
The Carlton Hotel became the meeting place for many locals and was also the venue where Geelong hosted famous guests – among them Queen Elizabeth 11, Ava Gardener during the filming of ‘On the Beach', and Gough Whitlam. Sadly, since the 1970's the hotel's glory days faded until August, 2004, when the fortunes of the hotel turned.
The current owners, John Mole, Rod Van der Chys and Martin Bayliss, saw the potential of this city landmark and set their sites on resurrecting the hotel as a vibrant dining and entertainment venue. They engaged an innovative team of Melbourne designers who have successfully restored the fabulous décor of the roaring thirties.
The CARLTON HOTEL re-opens today as a proud example of the art deco style and elegance featuring a 100 seat restaurant with two private dining booths, a stunning transit lounge with open fire place, five bars and three function rooms where you can celebrate in style.
THE CARLTON HOTEL is the heart of the city's social life once again.
Menu Sample
Barker's Creek king rib pork cutlet stuffed with peaches, fresh tarragon with a sweet potato salad and cider peach glaze
Features & Facilities
- Air Conditioned
- Fireplace
- Pianist/Live Music
- Fully Licensed
- Private Dining
- Functions
- Bar