Albert Benari ran the Germantown Hotel for 27 years until his death on 27 May 1886. He was postmaster of Germantown probably from the time the post office opened in January 1860 until his death. He was mayor of the Borough of South Barwon from 1866 to 1867 and a councillor of the municipality of South Barown from 1861 to 1875. In 1858 he married Bridget Hackett. Albert and Bridget had 7 children: Albert (born 1859) Joseph (born 1859) Louis Fanny (born 1862) Charles (born about 1864) Philip (born 1865) Ida (born 1868) In 1869 Albert and Bridget separated. Bridget died in 1896 in Geelong Hospital and was buried in an unknown location in the Geelong Eastern Cemetery. The Germantown Hotel was situated on 1 acre of land in Germantown (Torquay) Road. It was a 20 roomed wooden building with slate roof and a wooden store with two rooms at the back. By the time of Benari's death the furniture, which had been in use for 27 years, was described as dilapidated and worn. The hotel had been auctioned in 1882. Bidding did not go beyond £500. When he died at the age of 66 at his home he left an estate of £1273 to his children. He was buried at the Germantown Lutheran Cemetery. The hotel was a centre of community activity with meetings, political speakers and inquests often being held. Some of the items sold at the general store were saddlery, furniture, manchester, crockery, hardware, groceries, tobacco, clothing and underware. Properties in the estate of the late Albert Benari were sold in 1866. Frederick Baensch bought the hotel. An allotment of 4 acres 3 roods was sold to Robert Smith Tuffs. |
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