Hog Bay / Penneshaw Hotels and Guest houses

Under construction


[1903]  Penneshaw Hotel Built with four accommodation rooms.  Builder believed to be Jim Potter using stone carted by Charlie Bates. 

12/1903 Claude Thomas Nimmo (1865-1909) – Licensee
9/1904 Samuel Marinovich (c1862-1917) – Licensee
6/1906 Olive E. Bennett – Licensee
10/1908 John Smith – Licensee
9/1909 George Adams – Licensee
3/1912 Mrs Mary Jane Wilkinson (c1852-1938 )– Licensee
1/1920 George Richard Wilson (1881-1962) – Licensee from 1920 to 1938  (His wife Ruby May was briefly the Licensee during the war)

[1950]  HOTEL PENNESHAW. Kangaroo Island. Under entirely new management. Newly furnished through out. Excellent table kept. Motor and fishing trips arranged. Book now for Easter. Phone Penneshaw 42.

[2007-2008]  Part of North Terrace was bought and major renovations carried out

Research: Chris Ward

Plan of Penneshaw Hotel from 1930 to 1950s. -

Chris Ward 

[1905]  'Farm Boarding House' at Hog Bay  

[1914]  Sorrento Guest House, Ocean View in the 1970's, then Sorrento Resort, now Seafront Resort 

https://seafront.com.au/about-seafront 

[1920]  'SORRENTO HOUSE,' PENNESHAW.  Excellently situated, facing the sea, at the popular Kangaroo Island resort of Penneshaw, this well-known guest home is now on the market for private sale as a going concern. The house, which is quite close to the jetty, is of modern design, encircled by broad verandahs and balconies, and the accommodation comprises 18 rooms, with all conveniences. Penneshaw has many attractions to offer the pleasure seeker, and as a holiday resort is becoming of rapidly growing importance. . . . 

Register (Adelaide, SA : 1901 - 1929), Thursday 2 December 1920, page 4

What is now the Seafront Hotel was originally built in 1911 for Lewis Ernest CLARK (1881-1953) who sold it shortly after completion to Adelaide interests.  Three HOWARD sisters from Cuttlefish Bay managed & operated the two storied guest house.  Mabel Jessie (1891-1986) Beatrice Alice (1890-1981) married HEIN in 1936 and Helena Isobel  (1886-1976) 

The building had an external winding staircase which was removed sometime in the 1930s.  The foundation stone is on display in the foyer. 

Mrs Mary Florence May (Minnie) MINES and her husband Clifford had the freehold of the property in the 1930s.. Clifford is reported to have baked pies which were sold at the school, the jetty and around town. 

Alfred WHITE came to Penneshaw in 1946 and bought the guest house.  He sold to Mavis SQUIRES in 1952 & she sold to Willhelm FRANKE on 6 February 1957 for £2,300.  FRANKE and his son-in-law were experienced builders and transformed the guest house into a modern Motel & Cabin Park.  In achieving this they bought three other adjoining properties. 

Subsequent owners prior to being bought by Sealink were Jack BOYD and WILLIAMS


Research by Chris Ward

[1927]  Bay View Farm Kangaroo Island, 2 new Furnished Bedrooms, use of other's boat; adults only.—Sidney Sanders, Penneshaw.

[1932]   Wilson's Hotel aka Penneshaw Hotel. The proprietor in the 1930s was George Richard Wilson (1881-1962), who married Ruby May Kimber (1882-1962) (widow of Horace Victor Buick) in 1923.

[1936 -]  Imperial Guest Home. Mrs M. Mines.

[1931- ]  PENNESHAW COFFEE PALACE. Good accommodation Morning and Afternoon Tea. Reasonable Tariff. Phone, Penneshaw 12. M. MINES. PROPRIETRESS

[1945 -]  WHITE GUEST HOME. Penneshaw, Kangaroo Island. Good meals, accommodation. facilities. Good beach and fishing. Book Government Tourist Bureau, or King's. Equipped with all convenience, Tariff 10/per day, 3 course meals 3/6.