Helen Curkpatrick, nee Guy, is on the lookout for some information about the building and the site.

The building was constructed around 1950-52 by builders (Bobby) Briggs and (Clem) Faulkner on Crown Land located on the Western Highway, Stawell.

"My grandmother, Winifred Jenkins, then 55, realised that a stopover for both trucks and travellers alike was needed," Mrs Curkpartrick said.

"The family belief is that Winifred's idea was funded by the Johnston family, no other detail is known about this family and so the name Win, from Winifred, and Ston, from the Johnston family, made Winston Lodge.

"Perhaps Winifred was a supporter of Winston Churchill as well?"

OTHER NEWS:

Mrs Curkpatrick said Ms Winifred Jenkins came to Stawell with her youngest child Mervyn to be close to her eldest daughter Norma.

"Norma and her husband Frank Hollis, a motor mechanic who was employed by Stawell Timber Industries to service their vehicles, had three young children," she said.

"The idea was for her youngest daughter, Lyla - my mother was to assist Winifred with the everyday running of the Lodge.

"This would change when Lyla was able to secure secretarial work at Stawell Timber Industries where she would meet, and marry, David Guy."

"Winston Lodge was the venue for their wedding breakfast."

Mrs Curkpatrick said her mother told the family Ms Jenkins drew the plans for the building in an exercise book, which has never been found.

The builders, Bobby and Clem both resided in the area - Clem and his family lived in Woods Street Stawell and Bobby Briggs and his family in Darlington Road.

MORE NEWS:

A Stawell Times notice has been found stating that the dining room at Winston Lodge was opening on Saturday, March 1 1952.

"Winifred sold the roadhouse in December 1957 and again, a Stawell Times and Pleasant Creek Chronicle notice confirms this stating that the Winston Lodge dining room was under new ownership," Mrs Curkpatrick said.

"As I was just five and a half years old, I have little memory of my grandmother being at Winston Lodge.

"The building has been reprieved from demolition a couple of times but from my point of view, I am pleased that it has been renovated and retained by the new owners.

"It is sad to see that the name has been painted over but I have left a message to be passed on to the current owners asking that the decision be reversed."

Mrs Curkpatrick said she remembers a man who lived at Winston Lodge, Robert John Cheney, known as Bob.

"I am guessing that my grandmother took him in - I don't remember Bob having any family and I believe that he was a returned World War One soldier," she said.

"Perhaps someone will remember Bob and give us more details.

"I believe Bob was born around 1876 and had a brother George."

Mrs Curkpatrick said over the years of looking for history she knows of a number of people who owned and managed the site.

"I have been told that Trevor and Elaine Jones had Winston Lodge at one time," she said.

"Also Len Hall. He had a catering business and who, in 1960, built the units on the east side of the land making it the first motel in Stawell.

"Other information I have is the Winston Lodge phone number was listed as Stawell 639 for many years.

"My grandmother moved to Melbourne and cruised to England around 1962-1964."

Mrs Curkpatrick said she would welcome anyone with any information to get in contact with her or the Stawell Historical Society.

"Any information, no matter how small, could be valuable," she said.

"I'm looking for photos, memorabilia - anything that I can put in the file of Winston Lodge so we can preserve the history of Stawell."

Helen Curkpatrick - (03) 5382 7227 or haven273@outlook.com

Stawell Historical Society - 5358 3789.

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