For many years as mine host of The Elgin Hotel, Peter “Percy” Jones has waxed lyrical with rowdy patrons (and even found time to pour the occasional pot) in a place where the walls are garlanded with welcome reminders of Carlton’s past glories of the 1960s and ‘70s.
But in truth, the hotel’s historic football club links can be sourced more than 100 years before Perc landed the first of four flags in his decorated 249-game career.
The story begins with The Argus’ following report of the annual general meeting of the Carlton Football Club, on Saturday, September 16, 1865.
“A general meeting of the Carlton Football Club was held last evening, at the Rifle Brigade Hotel, Carlton, for the purposes of winding up the affairs of the club for the past season, and also to make arrangements for a dinner to be held next Wednesday. Mr. McFarland was in the chair. The secretary, Mr. B. James, read a report of the doings of the past season, showing that the club had won only one match out of ten, and had a balance in hand at the present time. After a vote of thanks to the office-bearers for the past season, the meeting adjourned.”
On the basis of this report, the State Library of Victoria’s Andrew McConville recently saw fit to pursue further information regarding the Rifle Club. McConville gleaned from his viewing of the old directories that the only Rifle Brigade Hotel known to be in Carlton at the time was on the corner of Lygon and Elgin Streets - the north-east corner where . . . yep, you guessed it . . . Percy’s Bar proudly stands.
As part of the Club’s initiative to connect with the area that founded the Carlton Football Club over 100 years ago, the 2013 playing list will be making an appearance at Argyle Square on Tuesday starting at 1:00pm before walking the length of Lygon Street from Queensberry Street to Elgin Street. All supporters are invited to attend and there will be time for fans to interact with the team and gain autographs.
