GLENROWAN INN

The Glenrowan Inn played a pivotal role in the siege.

The Inn was owned and operated by Mrs. Ann Jones. The following information provides
an interesting insight into what the small weatherboard building was like prior to the arrival
of the Kelly Gang.

Source: Minutes of Evidence taken before board appointed to inquire into claim made
by Mrs. Jones for compensation for the destruction of the Glenrowan Hotel.
Friday November 18 1881 at Benalla. (from the Victorian Archives)

Present; Longmore, Templeton, Tyler, Dwyer (Council for Jones), Chomley (For Crown)

Builder of the Inn: Mr. Emery (carpenter) from Wangaratta &
William Jarvis. ('had a great deal to do with the building of the Inn')

The original plan was enlarged by Mrs. Jones.

Built around 1878 at a cost of 200 pounds.

Was up almost two years before the fire.

Was a weatherboard house with an iron roof.

The Inn was better made than McDonnell's across the road.

The Inn was all sawn timber, better fitted with a better counter and boarded floors and
larger than McDonnell's.

The stables were not as good however as McDonnell's.

There was poultry about the place.

Full value of establishment about 500 pounds.

Insured by 'Colonial Mutual'

Jane Jones has never been the same after the fire.

Jane Jones had a bullet through the head.

Family living on charity after the fire.

Ten gallons of spirits were destroyed in the fire &
4 or 5 cases of spirits that were piled in the corner.

Boxes of tobacco destroyed.

The Inn was doing a good trade before the fire.

Half the takings were profit.

Goodwill was worth around 300 pounds.

The class of person visiting the Inn was the 'working class'.

When asked her age, Mrs. Jones said "Rising forty".

Before she built the Inn Mrs. Jones lived 'lower down' in Glenrowan.
(half a mile lower down the line, in a hut on Crown land)

Mrs. Jones had lived 17 years at Glenrowan previous to the building of the Inn.

The block of land where the Inn was built cost 6 pounds.

She would never sell no matter what the price, especially after her children died there.

An actual photograph of the Inn after the fire. The Inn timbers exposed in 2008 during the archaeological dig. (Photo D. White)
Note that the light is still standing, as were the chimneys and sign.