John
Edward Deeble first licensed the Golden Fleece Hotel
in 1872. Built in stages between 1872 and 1880 on land owned by Deeble, the site originally comprised a four-roomed timber
building to which he added a brick bar.By 1880, although Deeble still owned the
hotel, it was licensed to Caroline Murray and subsequently extended to
incorporate eleven rooms. An adjoining brick shop, also owned by Deeble, was let to grocer Edward Barton.This shop has since been incorporated into
the present day hotel.
After Mrs
E Strieff took on the license in 1889, it was renamed
Strieff’s, a name that was only retained until 1891
after the license was transferred from Carl Strieff
to H Wood, when the original name was restored.Brewer Alexander McCracken, who owned many hotels around Melbourne, owned
the hotel at the turn of the century. The Golden Fleece Hotel was refurbished
during the inter-war period, as evidenced by the style of the lower level
windows, parapets and upper level balconies. The hotel, which advertises the
‘Best Beer in Melbourne’ on a
painted sign on its façade, was popular amongst the wharfies
and
fishermen, and has maintained the tradition of
a local drinkers’ pub.
