Diggers' Ball, August 1857

"Life  on the goldfields - a digger's ball".   From a sketch by W Lacey.  Courtesy of the State Library of Victoria collection.

THE BALL AT THE EL DORADO. Mr. Winter's ball at the El Dorado hotel last night was a decided success in point of numbers, as well as the means of enjoyment provided for the occasion. An excellent band excited the ladies and gentlemen to endless terpsichorean evolutions, and when eventually exhausted an abundance of suitable refreshments renewed their vigor. After midnight the company sat down to a magnificent supper, laid out with great taste and elegance, and comprising all the delicacies which the district and the season afford. The skill of the artiste in charge of the culinary department was displayed in various marvellous mysteries, which while the pleased the eye gratified the palate in a still greater degree. But M. Camille Reau is a veritable cordon bleu, who has graduated in high places and taken the highest degree in his delightful act. To use the language of the advertisement, which has been fully justified, "all the resources of the establishment" were displayed to the greatest advantage. The spacious accommodation which the El Dorado now possesses for such entertainments added materially to the general comfort and enjoyment.

THE LAND CONVENTION. (1857, August 5). Ovens and Murray Advertiser (Beechworth, Vic. : 1857 - 1918), p. 2. Retrieved October 14, 2013, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article113016258

George Griffith may well have performed at this Diggers' Ball at the Eldorado Hotel.

Eldorado Hotel, August 1857 - UPDATED

Image from the British Library Photostream

IMMENSE ATTRACTION

El Dorado Concert Room,

On Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and

Thursday evening. 

Positively the last week of the present

company 

MR & MRS. PENDLETON

Will appear in their celebrated characters of

the COOK AND FOOTMAN. 

Teddy O'Rourke and his pupil Biddy O'Shanasy.

THE ROVING GIPSIES.

Pretty Polly Hopkins and Mr Tomkins.   

Also their side splitting deleniations of domestic bliss, entitled 

MATRIMONIAL SWEETS,

MRS. PENDLETON

Will sing a choice selection of most popular 

ballads. 

MR. PENDLETON

Will appear in his laughable character of the

UNFORTUNATE MOTHER 

and introduce his comic abilities on the Light 

Fantastic Toe.

Also in his unequalled performance on the

BONES AND THEIR TAMBOURINES.

Assisted by

HERR KRAMER, MESSRS. GRIFFITH,

ZEPLIN,

And other professionals. 

The Performance on Thursday Evening will

be for the Benefit of

MR. AND MRS. PENDLETON.

Admission Every evening Free

Advertising. (1857, August 12). Ovens and Murray Advertiser (Beechworth, Vic. : 1857 - 1918), p. 3. Retrieved October 9, 2013, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article113016336

According to various advertisements in the Ovens & Murray Advertiser, the Pendletons seemed to be musical hall variety artists, while Herr Kramer claimed to be a celebrated vocalist from Buda and Pesth, Hungary.

UPDATE  Richard Patterson, in Nobblers and Lushingtons,(pp 30-31) described the El Dorado hotel as a substantial wooden building on the corner of High and Church Streets, Beechworth.  In 1857 the licensee  was Robert Winter, who made extensive alterations throughout, and included the El Dorado Concert  Room.