HOTEL LINDRUM
26 Flinders Street Melbourne
The hotel was named in honour of the Lindrum family of champion billiard players. The Lindrums dominated the Australian billiard scene for many years. Frederick Lindrum was Australian’s first World Billiard Champion in 1869 and more recently was Walter Lindrum, World Billiards Champion from 1933 to 1950, when he retired. During this time the rules were changed to create more competition.
(photo supplied by State Library Vic)
Before opening as a luxury hotel 1999, the magnificent red brick Romanesque Revival style building had been significant to Melbourne’s history.
In 1898 the building was commissioned by James and John Griffiths. Little is known about the brothers except that James and his wife immigrated to Australia in 1873 and were devoted Christians. James founded a successful tea, coffee and cocoas importation firm. Later he included his brother John.
The ornate, five level building was designed to have plenty of storage space as well as a shop front on Flinders Street. With the immerging influence from the Temperance Society at that time, tea and coffee sales flourished. Many of the large hotels became Coffee Palaces.
Even way back then Melbourne had a predominant coffee industry. I wonder if they had Baristas?
Flinders Street Station, the first railway station in Australia, was utilised by the Griffiths Bros. Firstly to supply their branches in at least four other colonies, and to advertise on billboards along the railway tracks showing passengers how far it was to where they could have a refreshing cup of Griffiths Tea.
(image supplied State Library Vic)
In 1920 Griffiths Bros Teas was converted to a public company and in 1960s the business was taken over by Robur Tea Company Limited.
During the 1940s the Griffiths Bros’ building was leased to Verona Printing Company as its headquarters.
In the mid -1960s, The Herald acquired the building and renamed it Gravure House.
In 1973, The Herald management approached Dolly Lindrum and Bill Dunn, niece and nephew of Walter Lindrum, who ran The Lindrum Billiard Centre in nearby Flinders Lane. According to The Age newspaper, dated 9th July 1999, Dolly said ‘ management hoped to lure their staff away from the nearby pubs.’
The Lindrum Billiard Centre was moved to 26 Flinders Street and successfully operated until 1988. Dolly had fond memories of the clientele from the newspaper. Dolly said ‘I heard the news before it hit the presses.’
The Lindrum Billiard Centre closed in 1988 when Rupert Murdoch, owner of News Limited and The Herald and Weekly Times, took back the building to be used for offices.
The building came on the property market in 1995 when Herald and Weekly Times moved to Southbank.
David Marriner of Stage Development Australia, redeveloped the building and refurnished it into a unique 59 room, boutique hotel. Hotel Lindrum was at the forefront of this new style of hotel in Melbourne.
Designed around the memory of the Lindrum family of champion players, there is a full sized billiard table in the ground floor bar area and the restaurant is lovingly named ‘Felt’.
The hotel has a collection of memorabilia from the building’s past.
MARVELOUS MELBOURNE 