18 August 2015, updated 2025:

A simple little very early pub in the heart of the city, a testament to the ongoing profits of beer.

The Duke of Wellington was built in 1850, just before the #goldrush, but didn’t become a pub till 1853, license trouble I believe. Oldest/longest operating in the city at least till 2008 when it closed for a larger site redevelopment, but finally reopened last year.

The ground floor now is quite different to originally, probably largely dating from a c1970 ‘colonial’ makeover, including the rather nice incised signage, the window and door openings, and the multi-pane windows. An early photo shows an elaborate ground level, probably dating from the 1880s, it doesn’t really match the upper floor, and doesn’t look 1850, but the openings probably the same.

The redevelopment is awful, and shockingly included the demolition of the 1857 wing up Russell Street, of which they going to keep just the facade, but due to ‘imminent collapse’ it was demolished too. So instead of a nice new interpretive wall it has just the base, and timber beams sticking out to represent the lost facade by its absence – but if you didn’t know the story ….

Have just also found at @library_vic some interiors from 1964, a big stark main bar, and chintzy dining room and bed rooms (those possibly earlier) and a proposed replacement from 1954, designed by hotel specialists RH McIntyre.

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