| Address: | 13 Cooper Grove |
|---|---|
| Suburb: | Sorrento |
This Guest House was built out of the local limestone, with red brick quoining and window detailing, in the early 20th century. It represents a distinctive building type that became associated with Sorrento. On this larger scale Whitehall Guesthouse, close to the ocean beach, survives today. The typology was also used in smaller scale houses, a number of which remain in Ocean Beach Road, and commercial premises on Ocean Beach Road. During summer seasons such guesthouses were in high demand. The fancy dress ball held at the Ophir in 1914 gives a taste of the times and holds an echo of the life in this high-class seaside resort. Such entertainment, dancing and music were also a hallmark of the journey to and from Melbourne on the paddle steamers which transported the thousands of visitors in the high season.
“Ophir” Guest House, built 1909, demolished 1960s: ca.1920-1954 ----- Built 1909, since demolished, was located between Continental Hill and Hotham road opposite the current site of the Masonic Hall. Image courtesy of Rose Stereograph Co and The State Library of Victoria.
“Ophir” Guest House: ca. 1920-1954 ----- The growth of vegetation in the foreground gives indication as to the buildings relatively unchanged street presence for a number of years. Image courtesy of Rose Stereograph Co and the Nepean Historical Society Inc. (NHS).
Ophir Guest House, Business Card: ca.1920-1949 ----- Proprietor Mrs. Jessie Wilson Dark (1861-10th June 1949). Image courtesy of the Nepean Historical Society Inc. (NHS).
Fancy Ball at "Ophir": 1914 ----- Punch, (Melbourne 1914-18) Thursday 5th March 1914, courtesy National Library of Australia.
