Mount Austin Hotel [1891-1897]

Submitted by annelisec on Sat, 09/18/2010 - 13:43
Current condition
Demolished / No longer exists
Date completed
Date closed / demolished

http://images.wellcome.ac.uk/indexplus/obf_images/3f/13/44c4dd24aa49af255053c97c5d2e.jpg

Previous place(s) at this location
Austin Arms [1875-1891]

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Photos that show this Place

1888 Austin Arms Hotel Prospectus
1888
1891 Opening of the Mount Austin Hotel
1891
Mount Austin Hotel - architects design
1891
See more photos of this place

Comments

Some dates:

  • 1888: Prospectus published for 'The Austin Arms Hotel', stating they would
     - buy the site of the 'Austin Arms', and  build and keep a large 'First Class Residential Hotel' on it
     - buy another section of land on the Peak and build & let a terrace of 11 houses there. (They'd be known as 'Mountain Peak')
     - Architects are Messrs Danby & Leigh.
  • 1891: The last page of http://www.hkia.net/news_attach_file/journal_issue45_02.pdf shows Danby & Leigh's plan for The Austin Arms Hotel, and dates it 1891.
  • 189?: The map on Annelise's site shows the building is a simple L-shape, as shown in the architect's drawing.
  • 1892, April 2: An EGM of The Austin Arms Hotel company is held. It reports income from the hotel (so it's obviously open for business), but also notes a loss of capital, and says Mountain View must be sold to avoid further expenditure. It also suggests Findlay Smith bore some of the blame for these problems.
  • 1892, April 4: Findlay Smith writes a letter to the newspaper to state his side of the story.
  • 1895: The revised 'Collinson' map of this year shows the same L-shaped building, but names it 'Mt. Austin Hotel'. Was there a change of ownership to match the change of name?
  • 1897: The HK Public library notes say it was sold to the Military Authorities in this year.

We've got a disagreement on the date of sale to the government. Annelise, have you been able to find a firm answer to that?

Moddsey found this article, explaining that the hotel was extended sometime between 1895 and 1897, with the new wing completed around April / May 1897:

Sale of Mount Austin Hotel - China Mail 29 May 1897 refers:

"More than two years ago,  rumours were current that the military authorities had cast longing eyes upon this splendidly situated building, but the negotiations were understood to have fallen through because the authorities could not come to terms with the proprietors, Messrs J. D. Humphreys & Son. Since that time extensive alterations have been effected upon the hotel, a large new wing of bedrooms, which was completed only a few weeks ago, and a large ballroom, have been added to meet the growing demands of the Peak District."

 

In the photo below I've highlighted the new wing (left) and ballroom (right),

Extensions to the Mount Austin Hotel / Barracks
{C}Extensions to the Mount Austin Hotel / Barracks, by Admin{C}

Sir, – as my name has been mentioned, publicly, in the report of the annual meeting of the Austin arms hotel Company Limited, which appeared in your columns on the second incident, I trust you, will do me the favor of permitting me to pre-vent any further misconception of my sites and motives in connection with this company, by stating the following facts.

Haven’t been asked by a neighbor to join the board of the newly formed, Alston arms, hotel Company, Limited, iPad first refused, but consented on his pressing me, as I told him at the time, “for the sake of good neighbor ship “and I did not wish to be Unfriendly to a rival hotel.

The peak hotel, then been running six months or more, and the gentleman who asked me to become a Director of the new undertaking knew what I naturally did not keep a secret, but I intended disposing of it to a company; but in the plans I do, it was early intended to enlarge the existing building, but heading first 10, and afterwords, 20 bedrooms, and the usual public rooms, my mothers design might have escaped to the jealousy of what afterwards turned out to be a very powerful rival, but they were not here to buy the company who bought my property.

I am not responsible for any of the other directors joining the board of the Alston arms hotel company.

I attended a preliminary full meeting of the board of the Austin arms Co., the vendor being present, at which the proposal to take over the two lots of land was voted for and also a second meeting at Wedge as far as my recollection serves me most of the shares were subscribed for. And then became evident that some of the members favored doing things on a scale which would involve an expenditure of money much greater than the capital, of course, I did not think commendable. I then retired, and shortly after I left for Europe to join my family.

Mr. Nowrojee seemed to be pretty much of my opinion, in regard to expenditure, and also retired. I exercised my own judgment in selling the 50 shares I held, at the best price I could obtain.

Yours truly

A. Findlay Smith.

Annelise