History and photos from De Zilwa archives

The Spirit of St Andrews Hotel

Compiled by David De Zilwa and Percy De Zilwa – revised 2006

1875 – 1918 From house to Scots Club (family recollections)

Documents regarding the property go back to 1875. It was said to be part of land gifted to a faithful servant of the
crown. A house was built on this land which later became the Scots Club. This Scottish connection and its
proximity to the golf course could account for the title St Andrews - a nostalgic reference to St Andrews in
Scotland, the home of golf where the game evolved and where the spirit and traditions of golf have been
safeguarded for over six centuries.

The golf course 10th driving tee was part of the property and was exchanged for the strip of land bordering the
stream at the corner of Waterfield and St Andrews Drives extending to the bridge across the stream. Later on,
garages for the cars of guests and accommodation for the drivers were built on this land. These are no longer part
of the hotel.

During the early 1900s the club became a hotel which was run by a German manager by the name of Mr Humbert.
Sadly for him, he was interned by the British government during 1914-1918 (World War 1). In 1918 the hotel was
bought by a syndicate headed by Arthur Ephraums. During this period the hotel was expanded to include a two
storey wing to the west, and behind the main block, a large dining room and pantry, large kitchen, storeroom, and
servants quarters. Also added were bathrooms, a bar and billiard room on the east side.

1919 – 1924 Expanded St Andrews Hotel open for business

The newly refurbished and expanded hotel was open for business in 1919. In November 1919, Mr JH De Zilwa, a
young cousin of Mr Ephraums, was appointed manager. He arrived with his wife and two children – son Percy
nearly 3, and daughter Sylvia aged 9 months. Business was improving in Nuwara Eliya, however a disagreement
occurred between the owner and the De Zilwas and in 1924, Mr and Mrs De Zilwa left St Andrews to begin their
own hotel business.
Mr and Mrs JH De Zilwa
senior, parents of Mr JH De
Zilwa.

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 History and photos from De Zilwa archives

1925 – 1932 Great Depression years

In the late 1920s and early 1930s, the Great Depression had a major impact on all hotels including St Andrews
and by 1930 St Andrews was closed. Nobody was prepared to take over the building and caretaker was appointed.

1933 – De Zilwa family return as owners

In 1933 the legal firm, Julius & Creasy in Colombo held the mortgage and offered the hotel to Mr and Mrs De
Zilwa. Again, the family moved back to St Andrews with newborn son James Henry junior (known as Jim).
Guest postcard from 1930s
with Mr De Zilwa seated
(left) on the bench

Once Mr and Mrs De Zilwa reopened the hotel as proprietors, many investors who previously shunned St
Andrews as a viable business suddenly became interested and made higher offers for the hotel. There were also
suggestions for amalgamation with other hotels, subdivisions of the property, and a serious proposal from the
Catholic Church to have St Andrews to become a monastery attached to the catholic church closeby. Despite these
offers, Mr and Mrs De Zilwa were determined to secure their ownership of the hotel and continue to run it
independently.

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 History and photos from De Zilwa archives

1930s/1940s menu card

During this period through to the late 1940s, all guests were
on an inclusive rate which provided them with meals such
as the menu card illustrates. From 1950, in addition to the
all inclusive rate, St Andrews introduced a bed and
breakfast tariff and this attracted more clientele to the hotel.

Business was very slow at first during the 1930s as the depression took its toll, but gradually improved. More
improvements were carried out, for example new bathroom blocks, gardens developed with a view to becoming
self sufficient in vegetable and flowers, and excess produce was sold to the markets in Nuwara Eliya and
Colombo. An interesting environmental fact is that firewood was harvested from the grounds for in-room
fireplaces and cooking in the kitchen. Mr and Mrs De Zilwa made a habit of replacing each felled tree with two
young trees grown from seed by Mr De Zilwa himself.

Water from the spring east of the hotel was channeled down to the front garden for watering. Later in the 1950s
the spring also supplied water for newly dug fish ponds – photograph of fish ponds is included later in this
publication.

St Andrews provided many facilities for its residents and guests. Hotel guest book records from the 1930s
onwards show that many celebrities stayed at the hotel. These included racehorse owners, trainers, heads of
government departments, doctors, lawyers, tennis champions (including Hilden Sansoni), and Mr SWRD
Bandaranaike (prior to his becoming Prime Minister). The present car park was formerly a tennis court where
many champions practiced in preparation for the tournament. The present conference room was originally a
billiard room with two full size billiard tables. Later this room became a dance hall. The current billiard room with
its 100-year-old full size table was formerly a music room. Mrs De Zilwa was an accomplished pianist while Mr
De Zilwa played the violin, stroh violin (invented in 1890s, widely used in 1920s/1930s by dance bands for
greater volume than a regular violin), guitar and saxophone. The “Zilwan Jazz Band” formed in the 1920s was in
great demand in Nuwara Eliya and surrounding towns. Impromptu concerts were often held before and after
dinner – especially when musicians and vocalists were resident at the hotel. There were monthly dances at St
Andrews which were very popular and contributed to increased bar sales. During the “season” February to May,
there was dancing every night free of charge for residents and young people from the town also attended these
dances. The music was Victor Sylvester’s dance band on 78rpm records and these records were played on an
electric radiogram with attached loudspeaker.

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 History and photos from De Zilwa archives

1930s approx: Zilwan Jazz Band

Mrs De Zilwa at the piano, Mr De

Zilwa holding the sax and with
other instruments he was playing
on the day – stroh violin, guitar
and banjo

Every year a Christmas tree was decorated and loaded with presents for the children in town. Parents paid for the
toys, which were purchased at discount rates in Colombo. Many children commented on how Mr De Zilwa would
have made a good Father Christmas but he was too busy so the Postmaster – a fatherly figure took over the role.
He demanded and received a kiss from each child before presenting a gift from the tree. On one occasion, a young
boy said that Father Christmas “smelled like arrack” (the local liquor). The venue for these Christmas activities
was the present dining room. Wedding parties were common – the most memorable being the celebration of
daughter Sylvia’s wedding in 1943, also the celebrations for the 25th and 50th anniversaries of Mr and Mrs De
Zilwa. An anniversary cake was made as a model of the hotel for their 50th features prominently in a photograph
of Mr and Mrs De Zilwa, currently hanging at St Andrews.

Flowers and vegetables for the hotel came from the garden. Several pear and citrus trees also provided fresh fruit
for guests and ingredients for marmalade. Mr and Mrs De Zilwa planted additional fruit (pear and orange) trees to
supplement the orchard that was already there. Interesting point to note is that the pear trees which were already in
the garden were added to the assets of the hotel and taxes had to be paid on them. Poultry and cows provided eggs
and milk. Farm workers were given free accommodation in quarters adjacent to a row of garages at the
intersection of St Andrews and Waterfield Drives.

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 History and photos from De Zilwa archives

1941 approx family photo on the front steps.

Left to right, Mr De Zilwa, daughter Sylvia, Mrs De Zilwa,

JH (junior), known as Jim, elder son Percy.

1942 – 1948 – Busy years at St Andrews

During World War 2, the British Government used the hotel as a rest and recreation center for servicemen. The
first arrivals were survivors from HMS Hermes in 1942 – bombed by the Japanese off the east coast of Ceylon.
Many from this first batch of sailors arrived in their oil-soaked clothes.
Servicemen from the
Hermes after
recuperation at St
Andrews awaiting
departure with their bus
piled high with their kits
etc. Included in the photo
are 2-3 local townsfolk.

Seated centre and on the

right are Mr and Mrs De
Zilwa, with their daughter
Sylvia standing behind
Mrs De Zilwa.

For these and later servicemen, a ladies committee was set up to provide clothing and other necessities. Provisions
for the kitchen and pantry, liquor, and cigarettes were supplied from the Navy Army and Air Force Institute

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 History and photos from De Zilwa archives

(NAAFI) set up in Nuwara Eliya. It was often felt that the hotel was in its former heyday during these years as it
had a major part to play in the lives of so many local and foreign servicemen, visitors and permanent guests.
During these years and beyond into the 1940s, Nuwara Eliya enhanced its reputation as a health and holiday
resort. High season extended from December through May. Early childhood memories are of the All Ceylon
Tennis and Golf tournaments (the 9th hole is named St Andrews), a flower & vegetable show with prizes for the
winners, a circus, and a horse gymkhana. In later post war years there was also a hill climb for motorcycles and
cars at Mahagastota Estate – a few km from the town. However the main attraction was the races from February to
April. Many jockeys and their families and trainers stayed at the St Andrews during the season. The horses were
stabled throughout the year at the racecourse in Nuwara Eliya and taken to Colombo for races there. St Andrews
also had stables and living quarters for families who looked after the animals. Mr Ephraums built these stables for
his string of horses including “Orange William” – a champion at that time.

1949 – 1960s Political changes etc

After independence from Great Britain in 1948, Tamil laborers originally recruited by the British from India to
work on tea plantations were declared stateless. Their applications for citizenship were too numerous to be
processed at the local government office (or Kachcheri as it was called), so the Government took over 16 rooms in
the bedroom wing as a second Kachcheri. During last six months of this 18 – 24 month period, additional space
was allocated including the dining room and one sitting room. It was said that the upcountry estate families
became Ceylon citizens at St Andrews.

When racing was abolished by the then Government of Ceylon, and the stables were idle, Mr De Zilwa converted
them into twin cottages known as the “Crib” and “Cot”. These are situated on the northwestern hill beside the
hotel. These were leased to tenants who were still in occupation when the hotel was sold in 1976. The houses were
excluded from the 1976 contract of sale.

Previously mentioned in this history was the tennis court which in the 1980s became a rose garden and now a car
park. There was a gazebo and casual seating surrounding these tennis court facilities as shown in the photograph
below.

1950s

Mrs and Mrs De Zilwa at the

gazebo beside the tennis court –
these facilities were cleared
during reconstruction in the late
1970s/early 1980s.

The gazebo was commonly

referred to as the “summer
house”.

This area in front of the hotel on

the western side is now devoted
to tour bus and car parking.

During the 1950s, water from the spring east of the hotel supplied three fish ponds which were dug by staff of St
Andrews under the supervision of Mr and Mrs De Zilwa’s son Percy. The ponds were stocked with tilapia
fish, and children often fished here but returned the fish to the ponds. These ponds were later filled during
redevelopment of the hotel in the 1980s.

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 History and photos from De Zilwa archives

1958

Pictured is Dr and Mrs Percy De

Zilwa with their son David. Percy
is the son of Mr and Mrs De
Zilwa, and David is their
grandson.

AMany visitors arrived in Nuwara Eliya from Nanu Oya station on a narrow gauge railway. When buses took
over the transport, the line from Nanu Oya was closed. One of the engines was sold to a film company for the film
“Bridge on the River Kwai”. This engine was destroyed when the bridge was blown up during production of the
movie in the late 1950s. Another engine is currently exhibited in the Puffing Billy Steam museum in Menzies
Creek near Melbourne, Australia. The museum houses Australian and overseas locomotives representing some of
the world's most famous builders.

In the late 1950s and 1960s the government policies changed and many thousands of people emigrated from
Ceylon, Sinhala replaced English as the national language. Also departing Ceylon in the early 1960s were the De
Zilwa children, now as adults with their own families who left for Australia (Percy & family, Jim & family), while
daughter Sylvia & family left for Singapore where her husband found employment before finally settling in
Australia.
1963

Jim De Zilwa, younger son of Mr and

family prior to emigrating to Australia,
departing 12 months after brother
Percy De Zilwa and his family.

Pictured is wife Denise, daughters

Cheryl and Jeanne, and Jim.

In April 1966, Mrs and Mrs De Zilwa celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary with a cake replica of St Andrews
Hotel. There is a photo currently hanging at the hotel of them in front of this structure.

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 History and photos from De Zilwa archives

April 1966, 50 years married

Celebrated at St Andrews Hotel with a

some family members visiting from Left
to right:
• Chris Marschner (grandson)
• Dr Percy De Zilwa (son)
• JH De Zilwa (proprietor)
• Tony Marschner (grandson)
• Mrs JH De Zilwa (proprietor)
• Jeffrey Marschner (grandson)
• Frank Marschner (grandson,
front)
• Sylvia Marschner (daughter)
• JH (Jim) De Zilwa (son)

1970s A new period of change

The elderly couple by the mid 1970s decided to follow their children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren to
Australia as soon as they could sell the hotel. In 1976, a buyer was found – Mr GEB Milhuisen, a hotel owner and
agent for Vingressor Tours, a Swedish company. He needed a hotel in Nuwara Eliya to cater for the tourists. He
wanted to maintain the spirit of St Andrews and the De Zilwa tradition – to keep the building as it was (with
refurbishment) rather than demolish and rebuild.

From March to July 1976, Mr and Mrs De Zilwa traveled to Australia to celebrate their golden wedding
anniversary (60 years) with family and several close friends who had also moved to Melbourne, Australia.
1976 60 years married
Celebrated in Australia with family in April 1976

Upon their return to Sri Lanka to finalize the sale of the hotel, they were devastated to witness the wreckage of the
interior for there had been a gang robbery the night before their arrival. Linen, crockery, silverware, and several
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 History and photos from De Zilwa archives

treasures were stolen. Sadly within a week, Mrs De Zilwa died and it was said that she “died of a broken heart”.
Some family members arrived for her funeral and which was held at Holy Trinity Church, Nuwara Eliya. The
hotel sale was finalized to Mr Milhuisen and Mr De Zilwa left Nuwara Eliya with his son Percy, granddaughter
Jennifer and grandson David for the last time to Melbourne, Australia.
Photograph of St Andrews
taken in 1976 at time of sale
from the De Zilwas to Mr
Milhuisen.

1976 handover to Mr Milhuisen

Pictured here is the departure of the De Zilwas. Left to right:
• Mr G Milhuisen (new proprietor)
• David De Zilwa (grandson) of Mr & Mrs De Zilwa
1976 sale negotiations • Dr and Mrs Percy De Zilwa
Dr Percy De Zilwa (right) arrived from
Australia and resumed sale discussions with
Mr Milhuisen. This led to a contract of sale for
St Andrews Hotel.

During 1977-1978, St Andrews was substantially upgraded into the form you still see today.

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 History and photos from De Zilwa archives

1976-1977 demolition and rebuilding commences

The following two photos were provided by Mr G Milhuisen to illustrate to Mr De Zilwa how the original structure was maintained and
their shared vision for a rebuilt and thriving St Andrew Hotel is in progress.

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 History and photos from De Zilwa archives

1977 rebuild
View of the garden terrace and original guest
wing being prepared for construction of
ensuite bathrooms

1977 rebuild
Another view of the original guest wing
after ‘lean to’ structures are removed, and
the wing is readied for renovation.
Note the furniture on the upper level
corridor. Most of the furniture used today
in this wing dates from early in the 1920s.

Surveying the rebuilding progress is Mrs

Percy De Zilwa (left) and Mr Milhuisen
(right).

Mr De Zilwa lived another three years until he was 91 years and passed away after an emergency operation in
1979. The cremation was held in Melbourne, Australia, and his son Percy brought his ashes to be interred in Mrs
De Zilwa’s grave in the Holy Trinity churchyard. Closely to their grave is also the grave of Clarence Herbert
(known as Clair), the older brother of Mr De Zilwa who lived his final few years at St Andrews before passing
away in 1971.

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 History and photos from De Zilwa archives

1979 headstone at Holy Trinity,

Nuwara Eliya

Interment of ashes on 20 August.

1979 August, Holy Trinity Church

Parish Paper

Tribute to Mr De Zilwa.

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 History and photos from De Zilwa archives

1978-1979 taking its current shape, the photo below is a montage taken by Dr Percy De Zilwa in 1979.

A new porch was added several meters below the original porch and a series of steps now lead to the
original entrance. One of the main reasons for relocating the porch was to accommodate tourist coaches
that were previously unable to climb the gradient.

1979 a postcard of St
Andrews Hotel mailed to the
De Zilwa family in Australia by
UK relatives who stayed at St
Andrews

1986 to present day – St Andrews becomes part of Jetwing Hotel group

Mr Milhuisen went into partnership with Mr Herbert Cooray, also a hotel owner and Director of the Jetwing group
of hotels. St Andrews was then added to the Jetwing group.

Several additions including a new kitchen, accommodation wing, executive and staff wings, and upgrades to
facilities and so on in late 1980s to the present day have elevated St Andrews to its current level.

The De Zilwa family maintains a close association with Jetwing and St Andrews and occasionally one or more
family members visits Nuwara Eliya and stays at the hotel.

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 History and photos from De Zilwa archives

1999 in the dining room

Dr Percy De Zilwa visiting from
Australia has a meal. At age 82 he
enjoyed his stay and was
accompanied by daughter Jennifer
and her husband John Goodley.

August 2002
Mr David De Zilwa, grandson of Mr
De Zilwa and son of Dr Percy De
Zilwa meets with Jetwing
proprietors Herbert Cooray
(center) and Hiran Cooray (right) in
Colombo.

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 History and photos from De Zilwa archives

David De Zilwa, Jan 2006, meets

with Wester Felthman (GM) and
Ziyard Zain (executive manager).

Dr Percy De Zilwa, 4 Feb 2006,

birthday 89 years in Melbourne
Australia.

Next to Percy are daughters

Carole, Jennifer and Wendy, with
son David at rear.

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