Breakfast Creek Hotel facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Breakfast Creek Hotel |
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Breakfast Creek Hotel in 2008, with lights from Allan Border Field in the background
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| Location | 2 Kingsford Smith Drive, Albion, City of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia |
| Design period | 1870s–1890s (late 19th century) |
| Built | 1889–1890 |
| Architect | Simkin & Ibler |
| Official name: Breakfast Creek Hotel | |
| Type | state heritage (built) |
| Designated | 21 October 1992 |
| Reference no. | 600057 |
| Significant period | 1889, c. 1900, 1926, 1930 (fabric) |
| Significant components | bar, kitchen/kitchen house |
| Builders | Thomas Woollam & William Norman |
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The Breakfast Creek Hotel is a famous building in Albion, Brisbane, Australia. It's a heritage-listed hotel, meaning it's an important historical site. The hotel was designed by Simkin & Ibler and built between 1889 and 1890. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register in 1992 because of its special history and design.
The hotel stands by itself and looks like a grand old building. It was designed in the French Renaissance architecture style, which was popular for fancy buildings. The front has a covered walkway with arches and patterned tiles. The building has strong, decorative features like columns and fancy roof sections.
The outside walls are made of brick with special finishes that make them look old and grand. You can even see the initials of William McNaughton Galloway and the year 1889 on the front.
Contents
The Breakfast Creek Hotel
The Breakfast Creek Hotel is a two-storey brick building. It was built in 1889 for William McNaughton Galloway. He was a well-known person in Brisbane. He was even the Mayor of Brisbane from 1889 to 1890.
A Look at Its History
Early Days and Construction
The land where the hotel stands was first owned by Thomas Hennessy in 1849. By 1862, a hotel called the Breakfast Creek Hotel already existed nearby. It's not clear if it was on the exact same spot.
The area around Breakfast Creek grew a lot in the late 1800s. There were quarries, timber mills, and the Albion racecourse. A new bridge over Breakfast Creek also opened in 1889. This growth made it a good time to build a new, grand hotel.
Architects George S Simkin and John Ibler called for builders in April 1889. The foundation stone was laid on May 18, 1889. Thomas Woollam and William Norman won the contract to build it for £5,300.
The new Breakfast Creek Hotel opened on May 17, 1890. It was called a "family hotel." It had a great view from the city and nearby areas. The inside was very fancy, especially the bar. Large doors could open to make a big room for parties.
Upstairs, there were ten bedrooms and a large drawing room. These rooms had wide views of the Brisbane River and the surrounding area. The kitchen and servant's rooms were at the back. The whole basement was made of concrete to keep it dry.
Floods and Changes
In February 1893, the Brisbane River flooded badly. The hotel was under 7 to 8 feet of water. Many people used the upper floors as a safe place. They climbed up the iron posts that held up the verandahs to get inside.
In 1900, the hotel was sold to a brewing company called Perkins & Co. The previous owner, Anne Galloway, had a disagreement with Perkins & Co. She felt she should have a new lease. After some time, the hotel's license was given to Michael McGuire.
A two-storey section at the back of the hotel was added around 1900. This might have happened after Perkins & Co took over.
Michael John McGuire managed the hotel from 1901 to 1917. Since 1926, members of the Cavill family have mostly managed the hotel. In 1926, changes and additions were made. A cold room was built in 1930.
What Makes It Special?
Unique Design Features
The Breakfast Creek Hotel is a very detailed building. It has decorative features made of cement. It has verandahs on three sides. The building is easy to spot because of its fancy decoration and special roofs. It's a landmark in the Breakfast Creek area.
The front of the hotel has projecting sections on each end. These sections have special stone corners and fancy roofs. The western section has a doorway with columns and a triangular top. The eastern section has a two-storey bay window. The covered walkway has round columns.
A deep decorative border goes around the building. It has carved supports and small block shapes. Above this border is a low wall with round designs. This wall supports five triangular tops. The middle one says "Breakfast Creek Hotel." The other two have W.M.G. (Galloway's initials) and A.D. 1889 (the year it was built).
The verandahs have detailed cast iron railings and columns. The columns are in pairs and have decorative tops. The entrance hall has a decorated arch. The floor has the letters "BCH" (for Breakfast Creek Hotel) inlaid. There are cedar stairs with fancy railings. The doors have etched glass with flower designs.
The western bar has a patterned floor and black-and-white tiles. It also has etched and coloured glass windows. The eastern bar has coloured glass windows over mirrors.
The stairs to the upper floor also lead to the service wing. The doorway has coloured glass with painted figures. There is a decorative metal ceiling above these stairs.
The upper floor has large meeting rooms and smaller offices. There is a big room in the south-east corner with a fireplace. Another room in the south-west corner has a decorative plaster ceiling.
The back service wing has the kitchen and other service areas. It's made of brick with cement decorations. This wing has been extended with a single-storey timber dining room. The dining room has large folding doors and is lined with coloured tiles.
Why It's a Heritage Landmark
The Breakfast Creek Hotel is important for several reasons:
- It shows how the Breakfast Creek area grew in the late 1800s.
- It's a great example of fancy commercial buildings from the 1880s.
- It's one of the few known works by architects Simkin & Ibler.
- The hotel is a beautiful and detailed building. It's a landmark in the area.
- It has rich internal decorations like cedar stairs and coloured glass.
- It's part of a group of important places near Breakfast Creek. These include Newstead House (1846) and the Temple of the Holy Triad (1886).
- It's one of Brisbane's most famous hotels. It has been linked to working-class groups and politicians.
- It has a special connection to William MacNaughton Galloway, a key figure in Brisbane's history.
Awards and Pop Culture
Recognised as an Icon
In 2009, the Breakfast Creek Hotel was named one of the Q150 Icons of Queensland. This was part of the Q150 celebrations, which marked 150 years since Queensland became a separate colony. It was recognised for its role as an important "location."
Featured in Books and Songs
The hotel is seen as a Brisbane icon. It is mentioned in many books about the city. It was even mentioned in the 1987 song "Dreamworld" by the band Midnight Oil.
Images for kids
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The Breakfast Creek Hotel during the 1893 flood
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The Breakfast Creek Hotel at twilight
