The Beauchamp was built in 1867 & originally named the Ice Hotel. At the time, ice was imported from the Great Lakes in North America, carried as ballast in ships with sawdust used as insulation. Up to 60% of the load was lost on route due to thawing. Ice St in Paddington is believed to be the site of early local ice production. It took 25 years for the American industrialists to lose their grip on the ice trade & for ice importing to become obsolete. Tools whose purpose is now a mystery, exist in museums relating to the ice industry.