Adding to the Colonist's story: the photographs of Otto Tepper
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Johann Gottlieb "Otto" Tepper (1841-1923)
was an internationally recognised botanist and entomologist, a Fellow of the
British Linnean Society, Honorary Fellow of the Royal Society of South Australia and a life member of the British Society
of Science Letters and Art; over his relatively long life he was also a farm-hand, farmer, shearer, storeman, schoolteacher,
numismatist, botanical illustrator and librarian. He was also a competent amateur photographer.
One occupation that Otto Temper does not seem to have pursued was publican. Nevertheless he photographed a number of pubs close to his residence off Elizabeth Street in Norwood or on the route to work at what is now the Mortlock Library. About 1911 Tepper photographed the addition of the second storey and a balcony/verandah (since removed) on the Old Colonist Inn on The Parade in Norwood. As far as I have been able to determine, these two photographs (below) have not been published previously. |
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J G O Tepper in his office, c1911 [SLSA PRG 313] |
The Old Colonist Inn, about 1911: building... [SLSA Tepper papers, PRG 313]
... and completing the second storey and balcony/verandah [SLSA Tepper papers, PRG 313]
The Old Colonist Inn, now known as 'The Colonist', has occupied the south-western corner of The Parade and Sydenham Road in Norwood since 1851. Like many of its contemporaries, 'The Colonist' was originally modest and single-storied, built on sufficient land that allowed it to expand outwards rather than upwards. With the growth of the surrounding suburbs, improving access to Adelaide and after the opening of nearby Norwood Oval in 1901, the pub was periodically upgraded to accommodate more customers and to compete with other nearby 'houses'.
In 1872 the owner tendered "for additions and repairs" which were completed by January 1873 [1]. More significantly, in late 1879 "the house [was] thoroughly refurbished throughout" with the addition of a billiard room and other amenities. "The main portion of the hotel has just been rebuilt," wrote the South Australian Licensed Victuallers' Gazette and Weekly Times, "and now presents a striking contrast to the unpretentious structure that formerly existed at the corner of the Sydenham Road. The bar is one of the most commodious in the Adelaide district, with an elegant and substantial counter of cedar, relieved with panels of Huon pine. The billiard room in lofty, spacious. well lighted, and supplied with every convenience; and will doubtless prove a pleasant lounge for the lovers of the game resident in the vicinity..."" [2]. At this time, too, the pub was "re-fronted, according to the plans of Mr English", a leading colonial architect [3]. This furnished 'The Colonist' with its characteristic "classical" portico which was incorporated when a second story was added.
In 1909 the lawyers representing the owners of 'The Colonist' and the licensee, William H Tasker, submitted to a Special Licensing Bench that "the owners had spent £260 during the past year [1908] and £1,000 about four years ago [1905] in making improvements to the premises... [but they] were prepared to pull down the house and rebuild it if it was not in conformity with the Act" [4]. Although 'The Colonist's' case was successful and it survived the threat of de-licensing following the Local Option poll in 1908, the owners seem to have taken this as a warning to improve especially the pub's accommodation. A second storey was added in about 1911 [5]. It was this addition that Tepper photographed.
