When there’s a Gold Rush ‘Sell Beer’

THE MAYOR AND HIS ESTABLISHMENT

Eventually, Mr Glowrey realised that there was gold in the publican’s business in this city, more so in many cases than in the mining line, and straightway possessed himself of the Royal Hotel, Bayley street, pictured below. This place was built just about three years ago, and to it belongs the distinction of having been the first two storey building in Coolgardie.

The Royal Hotel, Bayley Street, Coolgardie

The Royal Hotel Coolgardie – The Dining room

Among the first persons to sleep in the newly-erected hostelry was Mr. Alex Forrest, brother of the Premier. The hotel is one of the finest in the town at the present day. It has splendid saloons, an excellent dining hall, fine large sitting rooms and parlors, and big, airy bedrooms, besides a very fine balcony. The whole place is lit throughout with electric light, and the danger of fire is nil, as the bedrooms are constructed solely of nonflammable material. The dining room above mentioned is the best in town, and is capable of seating upwards of 160 persons, and in it daily are to be seen all the principal citizens of this centre. The room is fitted with rotary punkahs, and altogether bears an air of thorough comfort and refinement. The Royal is noted for its good liquors, and Mr Glowrey claims that a better selection of wines, spirits etc,
cannot be found in the colonies.

Mayor and Mayoress J T Glowrey

This hotel is a favorite resort of mining men, Mr Glowrey himself being so closely identified with industry conducing largely to this, so that it is invariably the rule amongst mining visitors to the city to look out the Royal straight away.

The Truth – Perth – 29 Jun 1907 pg 6

The hotel is connected by telephone with the local exchange, and from the office Kalgoorlie may be spoken to. Mr Glowrey runs in connection with the hotel a small farm, which supplies him with fresh eggs, milk, butter, pork, etc. Speaking with a representative of this journal the other evening, Mr Glowrey stated that when he came to the colony he had no intention of remaining here, but he now holds so large interests on the fields that he cannot very well get away. And,’ he added, I now look at it this way—where in the East will I do better than I am at present.’

Mr Glowrey’s election to the Municipal Council at the latter end of 1898 marked his first appearance in local public life, and it speaks volumes for his popularity and his estimable qualities as a citizen, when the fact is mentioned that he was elected to the Chief Magistracy of the town exactly a year after he took his seat in the chamber for the first time. He held the position of Mayor of Coolgardie from 1898-1899.

The Palace Hotel, Perth – Daily News 10 October 1916, page 7

John Thomas Glowrey was born in 1856 in Mepunga Victoria. He was the son of James Glowrey and Eliza nee Barry. In 1878 he married Nora Youlden at the age of 22yrs, there were three children of the marriage, John Tracey born 1883, James Henry born 1886 and Evelyn born 1887. In 1887 Nora died. He then married Hannah Marion ‘Jo’ Ryan in 1890 in Victoria, three more children were born, Lindsay Gordon born 1891, Irene Eliza born 1892 & Mary born and died in 1892, possibly a twin to Irene.

Three of the Glowrey children – Evelyn standing, Lindsay and Irene seated.

In 1900 John moved his family to Perth where he bought the Palace Hotel. he die in Perth aged 63yrs in June 1921 and is buried Roman Catholic section of  the Karrakatta Cemetery. He was joined by Hannah in 1927. His eldest son, John Tracey Glowrey is also buried with John and Hannah in the same grave.