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Town of Claremont Museum > Records

Osborne Illustrated - Osborne

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Greenham & Evans

c. 1898

Overview

Sepia print mounted on grey card of the Osborne Hotel.

Behind lawn and white fences is an ornate Victorian Italianate building with a Flemish gable and balconies with balusters.

Above the entry is a tower, its two iron railed balconies supported by decorative brackets and the upper floor formed by a corrugated iron mansard roof with iron cresting and flag pole flying the Australian flag.

To the left is the simpler bar and billiards' room building.

Historical information

In 1894, James Grave began building the Osborne Hotel on 2 acre property on a cliff top in Claremont. The hotel had views of the Swan River and Indian Ocean and was regarded as Perth's finest resort hotel.

The hotel was surmounted by a tower with a 70 foot turret and was surrounded by landscaped gardens with fountains, flowers, retreats, shades and summer houses.

There was also a tennis court, bowling green, boat shed, swimming baths, with a flight of 200 steps (Osborne Steps) leading to the water's edge to cater for those arriving by boat at the Osborne Jetty.

The hotel and a street were named after Matilda Osborne, wife of the late William Osborne who financed the purchase of the land and the construction of the Hotel.

The Osborne Hotel was purchased by the Catholic Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Loreto Sisters) in 1901 and converted into the Loreto Convent.

The Loreto Convent was demolished in 1962.

Details

Details

Registration number

cwa-org-28--11-220

Item type

Photographs

Keywords

1890s

Year

Links to additional resources

Claremont Museum.

Last modified

Saturday, 18 April, 2026

Completeness

94

Copyright and Reference

Copyright and Reference

Permissions

For authorisation to reproduce, publish or display, please contact 'Claremont Museum'.

Attribution requirements

Acknowledgements to be made to 'Claremont Museum 11.220'.

Rights holder

Claremont Museum, Town of Claremont, Western Australia, 6010

Town of Claremont Museum

Town of Claremont Museum

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Osborne Illustrated - Osborne

Osborne Illustrated - Osborne
Source: Claremont Museum 11.220

Osborne Illustrated - Osborne

Osborne Illustrated - Osborne
Source: Claremont Museum 11.220

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