The Britannia Hotel was first built in 1850 on the prominent site at the corner of Kensington and Fullarton Roads, Norwood that it has occupied ever since. The original building was demolished and the hotel rebuilt in 1882. The construction is of rubble stone walls with brick quoins at corners and doorways and windows. A prominent parapet conceals the iron roof. The verandah on its cast iron columns was probably not added until 1925, according to historian Patricia Sumerling.

Internal alterations were made during the war years to cope with the huge crowds that filled the pub prior to the six o'clock closing then in force. The pub, situated across the road from the Victoria Park race course was also a popular rendezvous on race days when congestion was also experienced.

The hotel is still in existence and underwent further interior renovations in 1996. The front bar remains much as it was prior to these alterations. Situated on Adelaide's notorious Britannia roundabout the hotel is well known to many motorists. Fullarton Road was known as Kent Road until 1966.

Britannia Hotel (Norwood, S. Aust.)

Hotels -- South Australia -- Norwood -- Designs and plans

Sumerling, Patricia, Down at the local: a history of the hotels of Kensington, Norwood and Kent Town, Kent Town, S. Aust.: Wakefield Press, 1998

Hoad, J.L, Hotels and publicans in South Australia 1836 - March 1993, 2nd ed. rev, [McLaren Vale, S. Aust.: C.R. Hoad], 1999

State Library of South Australia: Mortlock Wing exhibitions. From the ground up August 2004-