THE PALACE HOTEL Broken Hill
Surround yourself with famous grandios murals, enjoy cold drinks and great food in a top atmosphere
The History of the Palace Hotel Broken Hill
The building was erected as a coffee palace in 1889 at a cost of £12, 190 pounds. The Temperance Movement (a group that believes in non-licensed venues for the community) commissioned the build; They had a vision of a place for fine dining and coffee. Setting it apart from the licensed hotels that were abundant in broken hill.
The architect was Alfred Dunn from Melbourne; he had successfully won a competition to design the hotel. The build was unprofitable as a coffee palace and ultimately became a licensed hotel in 1892.
Mario painted a copy of Botticelli’s Venus on the ceiling; he offered £1000 for anyone who could match his painting in the blank area next to his painting.
An Indigenous artist from Port Augusta by the name of Gordon Waye came into the hotel. Mario asked him to paint a wall in the front bar, which Gordon painted in 8hrs. Over a period of years, Gordon painted all the other murals mostly in a landscape theme.
The only stipulation was that scenes contain a water feature so that the hotel would feel like an oasis in the outback.
The blank area is still not painted on the ceiling of the foyer. All the hand stencilled wallpaper is Mario’s work.
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