Historic Bendigo pub owner items to attract auction goers

The estate of Karen Esposito, whose grandfather David Sterry in 1857 established the iconic Gold Mines Hotel in Bendigo, will be among 1900 lots to be auctioned from 11am Saturday April 19 and Sunday April 20 by Glenelg Auctions at 37 East Street, Daylesford.

Born in 1832 in Suffolk, England, David Sterry became a sailor and his adventurous spirit led him to seek gold in Australia.

In 1853, he arrived in Bendigo and three years later formed Luftsmann, Sterry and Company to begin quartz reefing on the rich Victoria Reef.

It was with these earnings that he was able to build the original single-storey Gold Mines Hotel.

Later he formed the New Victoria Company with Luftsmann, Burrows and Gibbs and remained on the directorate until six months before his death.

In 1872, David Sterry commissioned an architectural firm to build a two-storey stuccoed brick hotel that remained in the family until Karen Esposito solid it in 2002.

Four years later, Sterry was elected to the Bendigo City Council serving as mayor in 1878-79 before becoming a member of the Victorian Legislative Council in 1882.

The auction contains a single vendor collection of works by Charles Blackman, Pro Hart, David Boyd, John Perceval, Brett Whiteley, Colin Parker and John Borrack.

Furniture includes bookcases, wardrobes, chess, display cabinets, tables and leather lounge suites – along with porcelain, pottery, clocks and a large mirror from a home in Wendouree.