Although built in 1850, the Duke of Wellington did not become a licenced venue until three years, and several attempts, later. A much coverted location, right on the banks of the Yarra, it was known for its peculiar accommodation and as an establishment where only the best of wines and spirits were always on hand.
One may notice that the interior design of the building doesn't really 'flow', especially in the buildings' upper levels. This is due to the fact that the orginal licenced public house only occupied the area where the corner where Russell and Flinders Street meet. What now occupies the rest of the hotel was originally two businesses and a house. A surgical bootmakers' and a tyre business, each spanned a third of what makes up the bars and bistro, this too was true of the public house. What is currently the breakfast room was actually a separate house.
The walls are peppered with sporting Charactertures done by the famous John Rogers, historic sporting moments such as the Centenary Match and Team of 1977 and bizarre little snippets of information such as ex-carlton footballer Val Perovic's drinking fest where he consumed 37 375ml cans of beer in 2 hours!
For those of you a little more interested in our namesake , there is a pictorial account of the Duke of Wellingtons' battle at Waterloo (to the left and below).
