The Grosvenor Hotel was built in 1896 by John Alexander Humberstone, and his wife Sarah Hannah, with construction completed just in time for the Summer season of 1897. They ran the new 60-room hotel themselves.
Prior to building the Grosvenor Hotel at ‘the other end of town’, Mr Humberstone had taken over the lease of the Crown Hotel in 1889, occupied Victor Harbor House in 1893, and had former experience with hotels at Mount Barker and Mount Rat.
An article written by a visitor to Port Victor (Victor Harbor) appeared in ‘The South Australian Register’ on Wednesday 6 January 1897. Part of their article reads…
“Christmas of 1896 will long be remembered by those whose privilege it was to spend it at Port Victor, which is considered by many to be South Australia’s premier watering-place. No township in the colony can boast of more building during the year just closed than Port Victor. Thousands of pounds have been expended in providing extra accommodation for visitors at this holiday resort. Principal among the new buildings is the Grosvenor Hotel, containing sixty rooms, with a magnificent balcony measuring nearly 200 ft., which has been much appreciated by the boarders and their friends.” Read more
