The Whitmore Hotel, being one of the first Public Houses in Adelaide, has had a colourful and varied past since 1839. The Hotel was opened on March 23, 1839 as the Queens Arms under the management of one Thomas Maslin. It remained known as such until 1904 when it was renamed the Bushman’s Club Hotel. In January, 1952 it was renamed the Gothic Hotel until it was changed to the St Andrews Hotel in 1994. It then had yet another name change to BTs Hotel on Whitmore in 2002. In December 2008, it was changed again to the Whitmore Hotel, oddly, the first time this name has been used, given its location on Whitmore Square. The property is located on the corner of Wright and Morphett Streets. It was constructed in three stages: the original bluestone 2-storey corner section was erected in 1838; a second addition of freestone was added in 1912 and a third single storey lounge area that doubled the original size, was added in 1952.

Originally built as the Queens Arms Hotel, it was one of some 30 hotels that serviced the thriving inner south western CBD residential and light industry markets, providing accommodation, dining and drinking options. It was a landmark Hotel located on the prestigious Whitmore Square, close to the Parklands and on a key arterial road into the southern suburbs of Wayville, Hyde Park and Goodwood. It was also in reasonable proximity to the Adelaide law Courts and enjoyed support at its bar from the Bar!

From 1950 there began a gradual shift from the CBD as the suburbs of Adelaide began to open up and transport options improved. From this time the southwest precinct became unfashionable and was increasingly occupied by a lower social demographic. The Gothic, as it was now known, retained a solid clientele favoured by the working class, workers from the nearby Adelaide Central Markets and a growing ethnic population that was moving into the city. The Hotel gradually declined in appearance, condition and reputation as it sought to find its place in a new world. It traded as a niche operation to the gay and lesbian community, then to the ‘gothic scene’ and has up until now been disposed as a strip club.

http://www.whitmorehotel.com/