Editor’s Note: The following story is taken from an article in the East Murchison News, 23 May, 1911.¹

For those tracing the history of the Lawlers district, few stories capture the precarious nature of life on the goldfields like the destruction of the Vivien Hotel. In a single 24-hour period, the establishment faced three separate outbreaks of fire, eventually succumbing to the flames in the early hours of a Friday morning. This account, drawn from contemporary records, offers a window into the lives of the residents and the names that shaped the local community.

The ordeal began on a Thursday afternoon at approximately 3:30 p.m. Mrs. Hickey, who was managing the hotel, had just served drinks to three gentlemen in the bar when the first signs of trouble appeared. Miss O’Shea, the hotel’s domestic staff, was preparing tea in the kitchen when she heard a distinct “crackling noise”. Upon investigation, smoke was seen billowing from beneath a closed slide in the passage leading to the bar. The culprit was found to be straw packing within beer bottle cases that had somehow ignited. The three patrons rushed back to assist, and after a frantic struggle, the flames were thought to be extinguished.

However, the peace was short-lived. Later that afternoon, while Mrs. Hickey was recounting the first fire to a neighbor, the cry of “Fire!” rang out again. A second blaze had erupted, likely caused by embers smouldering from the first outbreak. This time, neighbors Mr. and Mrs. Hince and Mrs. Steinhauser rushed to the scene with buckets of water. Through their collective efforts, the fire was suppressed once more, though it had already scorched the steel-lined walls and destroyed several shelves.

Exhausted and shaken, Mrs. Hickey retired for the evening after 8:00 p.m., leaving Miss O’Shea in charge and asking a boarder, Mr. M. Duly, to assist with locking up. Tragically, the hotel’s luck finally ran out in the early hours of Friday morning. Mr. Duly was awakened by a crackling sound; thinking it was simply Miss O’Shea lighting the kitchen fire for breakfast, he initially stayed in bed. By the time he realized the building was truly ablaze, it was too late. The Vivien Hotel was completely demolished, with only a few items of clothing saved from the ruins.

The aftermath saw a swift official response. Warden A. G. Clifton and Corporal Cunningham arrived via a Cobb & Co motor car to begin an inquiry. For those researching local family trees, the names of the jury empanelled to investigate the fire are of particular note: W. Fawcett (foreman), C. B. Pell, and J. O’Connor. Other locals present at the scene included Mrs. Maley and Mrs. J. Flynn.

While the building and its stock were insured for £2000 with the Royal Insurance Company, the loss of the Vivien Hotel marked the end of a central social hub for the Lawlers community. To this day, the story remains a poignant reminder of the fragility of the structures our ancestors called home.

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1. FIRE AT VIVIEN. (1911, May 23). East Murchison News (WA : 1901 – 1911), p. 2. Retrieved April 1, 2026, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article253584465 ↩︎