The 1850-1851 Oriental Building was the residence of Benjamin Skelton and in the Gold Rush it became a private boarding house before becoming a family hotel and then a licenced hotel. It was built in the establishment period of Williamstown. It was first named the Cox’s Family Hotel, then became the Barkly Arms Hotel, then changed its name to the Oriental Hotel. In the 1990s it was the Willy Tavern until the developer’s bought the old heritage hotel and then the deterioration began.... Today the developers just want to just demolish this important heritage which is the oldest hotel building in Williamstown and possibly the oldest three storey brick hotel in the state of Victoria.

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The 1850-1851 Oriental Building was the residence of Benjamin Skelton and in the Gold Rush it became a private boarding house before becoming a family hotel and then a licenced hotel.

It was built in the establishment period of Williamstown.

It was first named the Cox’s Family Hotel, then became the Barkly Arms Hotel, then changed its name to the Oriental Hotel. In the 1990s it was the Willy Tavern until the developer’s bought the old heritage hotel and then the deterioration began....

Today the developers just want to just demolish this important heritage which is the oldest hotel building in Williamstown and possibly the oldest three storey brick hotel in the state of Victoria.

Published Quarrill Lithograph of 1854 was based on the drawing of Edward Snell. It shows the grand building of the former Oriental Hotel when it was owned by Benjamin Skelton and used as a private boarding house - Edward Snell probably stayed there in November of 1852 - a landmark for immigrants of the 1852 Gold Rush when the ships berthed in Williamstown

Historical Photos are from 1854 before it was neglected badly from the late 1990s onwards.

From 2009 to 2014 outside and inside photos show where vandals have reeked havoc. The owners neglected to secure the building until in 2013 when they sought a demolition order and put fencing up blocking public footpaths

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The cultural and historical significance of Williamstown should not be underestimated, it starts long before the settlement of 1835 with the people of the Kulin Nations inhabiting the Point Gellibrand Peninsula for many centuries. The new arrivals of 1835 came from Tasmania by sea and chose the sheltered natural harbour to land and build their town, King William’s Town, later becoming Williamstown. Many early public buildings and homes still grace the town and the maritime and shipbuilding industries still remain after nearly two centuries.