The British Arms Hotel in Hannan Street, Kalgoorlie was built in 1899 and operated as a hotel until it was delicenced in 1924. It is reputed to be the narrowest two-story hotel in the southern hemisphere measuring only 3.2 meters in width.
Although small in size, the hotel did a brisk trade in the early part of the century as it was situated directly opposite the Hannan Street Railway Station. This was the busiest station on the Kalgoorlie/Boulder Loopline, conveniently situated close to the shops of Hannan Street. There was even a subway to allow passengers to cross under the rail line to Hannan Street safely.
From 1924 to 1963 the British Arms Hotel building was used as a boarding house. In 1966 the Kalgoorlie Boulder Jaycees set up a steering committee to establish a Museum in the British Arms and the Hotel opened as the Golden Mile Museum in 1968. In 1989 the hotel became part of the Western Australian Museum and with a Federal Grant, magnificent support from the mining industry, local government, and others, a larger complex was built adjoining the hotel and the Museum reopened as the Museum of the Goldfields, re-named the Western Australian Museum Kalgoorlie-Boulder in 2000.
A Ghostly Tale
It has been reported that there is a ghostly presence that haunts the British Arms. It is supposedly the spirit of Mrs. Edith McKay, the hotel publicans 37yr old wife who fell down the staircase of the hotel on the 17th December 1913 and died three days later in a private hospital.
It has been speculated that her fall was not an accident but this has never been proved. Many visitors and staff have reported seeing or feeling Edith McKay’s presence and many unexplained incidents in the Museum have been attributed to her.
On the 100th anniversary of Edith’s death, 20th December 2013, ABC Mornings presenter and ghost hunter Lorraine Horsley visited the British Arms after hours with museum education officer Peta Osborne to find out more. You can listen to Lorraine and Peta’s interview and the recording they made on the night. To hear all the ghostly sounds from inside the British Arms Hotel follow the audio player in the following link Did she fall or was she Pushed
Edith is buried in the Kalgoorlie Cemetery and has an impressive grave memorial.
Inscription
In memory of Edith beloved wife of
F. C. MCKAY who died at Kalgoorlie,
20th December 1913 aged
37 years at rest
Francis Charles ‘Charlie’ know as ‘Mac’ never remarried after the untimely death of his wife. Prior to coming to the British Arms Hotel, Charlie was running the Australia Hotel just down the street. In 1900, the year that he married Edith NORMAN in Coolgardie, he took over the British Arms Hotel. Here he sold his ‘signature drink:
Refresh yourselves with Pioneer Orange Phosphate and soda water
He continued to run the British Arms hotel with great success until the liquor license was not renewed among many other hotels in WA in 1924. He was the sole and last licensee for the hotel but for one year, a total of 23yrs.
Sunday Times 3 September 1933, page 10
All who knew the late Charlie McKay, well known in the aerated water and other lines, will be grieved to learn of his passing. A widower, but one who was by no means a recluse, ‘Mac” as he was known was exceedingly popular as mine host of the old British Arms Hotel, near the old Hannans-street railway station, Kalgoorlie, he is as popular a man as it was possible to know on the Eastern Goldfields. Coming to Perth a few years ago, he quickly established himself in the business at which he had made such a success when the Grim Shadow fell across his path, -his coastal friends being quite as numerous as those he left behind him in Kalgoorlie: The gathering at the obsequies Was a tribute to his qualities.
Charlie is buried in the Presbyterian section of the Karakatta Cemetery in Perth.
References:
WA Museum Kalgoorlie-Boulder
ABC Local Radio
Australias Golden Outback
TROVE
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