Address: |
231-237 Ocean Beach Road |
Suburb: |
Sorrento |
The Back Beach Palace was built for George Coppin in 1890. It was considered a comfortable commodious home for visitors. Whitehall was built opposite in 1903. While the balconied verandahs of the Back Beach Palace harked back to the Victorian style of building, Whitehall with is redbrick detailing was more so progressive and took its style from the local Sorrento federation “style” (discussed above). These two magnificent buildings are representative of the grander guesthouses constructed during Sorrento’s halcyon days. The Oceanic operated until the 1960s, when it was demolished. A motel and apartment style accommodation complex has been built on its site. In contrast, Whitehall’s website states that it “stands proud as the largest and the longest operating guesthouse of this fabulous era”.
Back Beach Palace, Sorrento ----- Source State Library of Victoria.
Sorrento from Back Beach, Back Beach Palace and Whitehall: Date unknown ----- Contextual image showing the Back Beach Palace at left, built 1890 for George Coppin and Whitehall, 1903, on the right. Image courtesy of the Nepean Historical Society Inc. (NHS).
Postcard of Sorrento from Back Beach, Back Beach Palace and Whitehall: ca. 1910-1930 ---- Photomechanical postcard print. The image predates the termination of the Sorrento Tram in March 1921. Image courtesy of the State Library of Victoria
Oceanic (formerly Back Beach Palace): ca. 1924-1950 ------ In 1908 Mr. George Baars renames the venue the Back Beach Palace (formerly Back Beach Coffee Palace) and ran it until 1921. Image courtesy of Rose Stereograph Co and The State Library of Victoria.
Oceanic Immediately Prior to Demolition: ca. 1966 ----- Image courtesy of the Nepean Historical Society Inc. (NHS).
Whitehall, built 1903-04: ca. 1920-54 ----- Image courtesy of Rose Stereograph Co and the State Library of Victoria.
Whitehall: 2013.
White Hall: 2013 ----- The foreground buildings demonstrate subsequent motel and apartment style development on the former Oceanic site.