The History of the Grand Old Duke
The Grand Old Duke was built in 1856 and was Battery Point’s third hotel. The area already had two pubs at the time – the Prince of Wales (est. 1846) and the Shipwrights Arms (est. 1846) but there was demand for more. The suburb’s population was steadily increasing and there were plenty of thirsty workers from the numerous shipyards along the Battery Point foreshore (Salamanca).
Prentis originally applied to license his pub as the Patent Slip Hotel but discovered the name was already taken. He settled on the Duke of York instead. Prentis died shortly after in 1859 and his wife, Ann, took over the operation of the hotel. Working as a publican was one of the few occupations available to women at the time and Ann remained the licensee until her death in 1877.
After Ann’s death, the pub had a series of different landlords and its name was changed to the Exhibition Hotel in 1892. Just three years later it was forced to close down – the pub’s license had lapsed after the publican failed to apply for its annual renewal. When he later re-applied, the Licensing Court deemed there were too many pubs in the area and the Exhibition Hotel was no longer required.
The building subsequently served for many years as a boarding house. In more recent times it has been refurbished to provide four star luxury accommodation in the centre of Battery Point.
The Grand Old Duke survives in excellent condition and remains a fine example of Georgian style corner hotels.
Battery Point & Salamanca History
Battery Point and Salamanca were two significant areas in Hobart, Tasmania, during the early to mid-1800s. Battery Point was a crucial defence point for the British during the colonial era, with the construction of the battery fortifications in 1818. These defences protected the port and city from any maritime attacks. In contrast, Salamanca was a commercial hub, and the docks were used to unload goods from ships coming from around the world.
In the early 1800s, Battery Point was also home to some of Hobart's wealthiest residents. The large, ornate homes and gardens demonstrated the residents' wealth and status. Salamanca, on the other hand, was a bustling port with warehouses, pubs, and brothels. It was a melting pot of cultures, with sailors and merchants coming from all over the world.
During the 20th century, the suburb underwent significant development and construction, which led to some controversy regarding the preservation of heritage buildings.
In the early 1900s, many of the original sandstone houses and buildings in Battery Point were neglected or demolished. However, in the 1970s, there was a growing awareness and appreciation for the suburb's heritage and historical significance, leading to a push for conservation and restoration of the remaining buildings.
Despite efforts to preserve the area's heritage, there were still cases where developers pushed for the demolition of old buildings to make way for new construction. This sparked debates about the balance between development and preservation, with some arguing that new buildings should complement the existing heritage buildings rather than replace them.
Today, Battery Point remains a popular tourist destination, with many of its heritage buildings and houses restored and preserved for future generations to appreciate and enjoy.