Exchange Hotel, Mossman facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Exchange Hotel |
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Exchange Hotel, 2015
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| Location | 2 Front Street, Mossman, Shire of Douglas, Queensland, Australia |
| Design period | 1919 - 1930s (interwar period) |
| Built | 1934-1935 |
| Architect | Vibert McKirdy Brown |
| Official name: Daintree Inn/Former Exchange Hotel, Exchange Hotel Mossman | |
| Type | state heritage (built) |
| Designated | 9 November 2012 |
| Reference no. | 602803 |
| Significant period | 1935-present |
| Significant components | lounge/recreation room, shop/s, bar |
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The Exchange Hotel is a historic hotel in Mossman, Australia. It's located at 2 Front Street. A famous architect named Vibert McKirdy Brown designed it. The hotel was built between 1934 and 1935. It was also known as the Daintree Inn for a while. This important building was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on November 9, 2012.
Contents
Hotel History
The Exchange Hotel is the second timber hotel built on this important spot. It stands at the corner of Front and Mill streets in Mossman. Mossman is a town known for growing sugar. It is about 75 kilometers (47 miles) north of Cairns.
Early Days of Mossman
The first Exchange Hotel was built around 1896. In March 1934, a strong cyclone badly damaged it. The new hotel was built to replace it. It was designed to attract tourists. More people visited the area after the Cook Highway opened in 1933. Road trips to Mossman and Daintree became popular.
Mossman is located near the Mossman River. It is between the Great Dividing Range mountains and the coast. People started cutting cedar trees here in 1874. Farmers followed in the late 1870s. They grew food like maize and tropical fruits. These foods were sent to goldfields like Palmer River and Hodgkinson goldfield.
Port Douglas was started in 1877 as a port for the goldfields. Mossman began in the mid-1880s. The land where the Exchange Hotel stands was first owned by Daniel Hart and Thomas Wilson. Early farmers tried to grow different crops. But the soil and heavy rain were best for sugar cane.
Sugar Industry Growth
At first, sugar cane in Queensland was grown on large farms. These farms used workers from Pacific Islands. Many sugar mills were built between 1878 and 1891. But most of them closed by 1891. The Brie Brie sugar farm near Mossman had a mill from 1884 to 1888.
Over time, small farms replaced the big plantations. This happened for several reasons. Sugar prices dropped in 1884. Rules about using non-European workers became stricter. The government also wanted more European farmers to own smaller lands.
In 1893, a law called the Sugar Works Guarantee Act helped farmers. It gave loans to groups of farmers. They could build their own sugar mills together. This led to the Mulgrave Central Mill (1896) and the Mossman Central Mill (1897). The Mossman Central Mill Company bought land in 1896. Mill Street became the main business street in Mossman.
Mossman Town Development
The sugar industry helped Mossman grow a lot. Two hotels were moved to Front Street in 1894. They became the Royal Hotel and Mossman Hotel. The Queens Hotel was built in 1896. A tramway connected Mossman to Port Douglas in 1900. Sugar was shipped from Port Douglas until 1958.
By 1910, Mossman had five hotels. These included the Exchange, Mossman, Royal, Post Office, and Queens. A cyclone in 1911 damaged buildings in both Mossman and Port Douglas. After this, many businesses moved to Mossman.
Denis O'Brien was an early sugar supplier to the Mossman Central Mill. His wife, Teresa, ran the first Exchange Hotel. The hotel was built for them around 1896. Their daughter, Kate, married Daniel J Kirwan. He became the hotel's manager in 1905.
The Exchange Hotel was first one storey. But it had a second storey by 1911. A cyclone that year destroyed the upper floor. The hotel was fixed and kept serving the town. It was damaged again in a 1920 cyclone.
Boom Times and New Hotels
The sugar industry kept growing in Queensland. By 1911, there were 4,238 small cane growers. Many sugar mills were built by 1925. Many cane-cutters, including people from Southern Europe, came to the area. This helped the economy of far north Queensland. The sugar industry did very well in the 1920s and 1930s.
The government also had a program called the Unemployment Relief Scheme. This program created jobs by building new public buildings and roads. This led to a lot of building in Mossman and other sugar towns.
In the 1930s, Mossman's economy grew even more. The Mossman District Hospital opened in 1930. The Cook Highway between Cairns and Mossman was finished in 1933. The Mossman Shire Hall and Douglas Shire Council Chambers opened in 1937. Mossman became the main administrative center for the Douglas Shire.
On March 12, 1934, another cyclone hit. It heavily damaged the top floor of the Exchange Hotel again. This time, the whole building was replaced. The timber for the new hotel came from the Daintree Mill. In April 1934, plans were made for a new timber and concrete hotel. The architect was Vibert McKirdy Brown from Atherton. Teresa Nugent, daughter of Denis and Teresa O'Brien, owned the land.
Architect Vibert McKirdy Brown
Vibert McKirdy Brown was a well-known local architect. He worked in Far North Queensland from the 1920s to the 1940s. He designed many different types of buildings. His designs often used Art Deco styles. He designed buildings for hospitals, churches, and civic groups.
In Mossman, he designed the former Jack and Newell Building (1936). This building is across from the Exchange Hotel. He also designed the Grand Hotel in Atherton (1933).
Tourism Boom and Modern Hotels
The new Exchange Hotel was built to take advantage of the growing tourism. Tourism in far north Queensland had been increasing since the 1880s. People liked to visit the natural beauty of the area. This included waterfalls and caves.
In the 1920s, more people had cars. The Queensland Government built tourist roads. This made tourism grow even faster. Cairns was the main entry point for visitors. It was known as a "tropical winter resort."
The Brisbane-Cairns railway opened in 1924. This gave another way to reach Cairns. By 1925, there were not enough "first class" hotel rooms in Cairns. More and better hotels were needed for tourists.
New hotels were built across far north Queensland in the late 1920s and 1930s. These included the Lake Eacham Hotel and the Malanda Hotel. Many existing hotels were also updated. The Royal Hotel (1932) and the Post Office Hotel (1932) in Mossman were also rebuilt.
The Mossman area's scenery was promoted to tourists in the 1920s. The Cook Highway opened in December 1933. This scenic road connected Cairns to Mossman. It made it easy for tourists to visit Mossman and Port Douglas in one day. From Mossman, tourists could take a bus to Daintree. They could also visit Mossman Gorge.
By 1935, the Mossman Chamber of Commerce noted that the Cook Highway had brought a lot of business. They said the new Exchange Hotel was "one of the largest, finest, and most up-to-date." An advertisement for the hotel said it was "one of the most modern in North Queensland." It had rooms with running water and large balconies.
The hotel's bar opened on April 10, 1935. It was ready for the Easter holidays. The newspaper said it was a "magnificent building." It offered "something absolutely new in accommodation and service." The owner, Mrs. D. O'Brien, had built a "palatial hotel." It was seen as a great place for tourists.
Hotel Features and Layout
In June 1935, an article described the hotel. It had 3.6-meter (12-foot) wide verandahs at the front and back. There were bathrooms and toilets on the back verandah. The front verandah had great views.
The ground floor had a large bar. There were also parlors for cards. A big lounge could be turned into a dance floor. This was done by folding back doors. The main stairs went up to the first floor from the lounge. There was also a dining room, kitchen, and billiard room. Shops, like a hairdressing salon, were also on the ground floor.
The first floor had 31 bedrooms. Each room was big and had a wash basin. They had different color schemes. A central lounge upstairs had cupboards for linen. Each bedroom opened onto a hallway and a verandah. The hotel had its own power house for electricity. It also had garages for cars.
The Exchange Hotel was part of a trend for more luxurious hotels in the 1930s. New hotels offered better comfort for guests. They often had modern styles like Art Deco.
New laws in 1935 aimed to improve hotels. They wanted better accommodation for the public and tourists. Hotels were encouraged to remodel. The Exchange Hotel was finished just before these laws. But it already had all the features of a modern tourist hotel.
The hotel was used for important events. It hosted dinners for government leaders. It also provided rooms for visiting doctors and business people. It was a key part of the town's social life. It held dances, parties, and meetings.
Later Years and Changes
In 1953, the Exchange Hotel was still the "best hotel in town." Over the years, the hotel's ownership changed many times. The land size also became smaller.
The ground floor of the hotel has been changed since 1935. The main bar area was made larger. But the ballroom and shop spaces still exist. The parlor areas can still be seen.
In 1978, plans were approved to remove most of the kitchen and dining area. A smaller kitchen was built. The old coffee room became the dining room. In 1987, the bottle shop moved. Later, a betting agency (TAB) operated from one of the shop spaces.
The first floor has changed less. Some bedrooms were turned into manager's or staff units. Parts of the verandahs were enclosed. But many bedrooms are still original. The two original toilet and shower areas are still there. The upstairs lounge and main staircase are also unchanged.
In the late 20th century, tourism changed. Improvements to the Cook Highway meant tourists often stayed in Cairns or Port Douglas. Mossman became less of a place for overnight stays.
From 2009 to 2013, the hotel was called the Daintree Inn. It served families and backpackers. In 2013, the hotel was bought and restored by Mark Collins. It reopened in 2014 as the Exchange Hotel again.
Hotel Description
The Exchange Hotel is on an important corner in Mossman. It is at the main five-way intersection. The building has an L-shape. It has entrances from both Mill Street and Front Street. A driveway runs along the side of the building to a backyard.
The hotel is a large, two-storey timber building. It has wide verandahs along both streets. The street sides have decorative timber tops. The roof slopes to the back. The outside walls are made of timber boards. The first-floor verandah walls are single layer.
The main entrance to the dining room has a special gable roof feature. The main door is set back. It has fancy timber around it. Other old doors and windows also have decorative glass.
The building has simple decorations. There is a diamond shape design around the main entrance. It is also on the first-floor verandah railing. The verandah posts are shaped with decorative tops.
The ground floor has public areas. The main bar is at the front corner. A shop is in the rest of the Front Street side. The Mill Street side has a small private bar and a large dining room. The main staircase to the first floor is in the dining room.
The main bar is a big open room. It has three entrance doors. Large windows look out onto the street. The bar has been changed many times. But some old ceiling decorations remain.
The shop (now a bottle shop) has also been changed. It used to be two smaller shops. The ceilings have round plaster decorations.
The dining room has many original features. These include wooden details and decorative plaster ceilings. A large opening divides the room. It used to have folding doors. The main staircase is made of dark wood. Walls are lined with timber boards.
The first floor has timber floors. The walls are also timber boards. Each original bedroom has a built-in corner cupboard and a small sink. There is a lounge room at the center where the two wings meet.
The front verandah is about 3.6 meters (12 feet) wide. It has a two-rail wooden railing. Bedroom doors open onto the verandah. They are French doors with glass panels.
The backyard area has a swimming pool and gardens. These are not part of the original historic features.
From the first-floor verandahs, you can see the mountains. You can also see the town and the Mossman Mill chimney. The hotel is one of the largest buildings in the town center. It stands out and overlooks a triangular grassy area. The hotel's style fits well with other 1930s buildings nearby. These include the Mossman Shire Hall and the former National Bank of Australasia.
Heritage listing
The Exchange Hotel was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on November 9, 2012. It met the following important rules:
The place is important in demonstrating the evolution or pattern of Queensland's history. The hotel was built in 1934-35 after a cyclone. It shows how the tourism and sugar industries grew in north Queensland in the 1920s and 1930s. It also shows how Mossman became the main town in the Douglas Shire. The hotel also represents a wider trend of building and updating hotels in Queensland during the 1930s. This was done to encourage tourism.
The place is important in demonstrating the principal characteristics of a particular class of cultural places. The hotel is a great example of a large timber hotel from the time between the two World Wars. It shows the main features of this type of building. It was built to offer comfortable rooms for tourists. Its original shape and layout are still clear. It still has its lounge and coffee room (ballroom) space. You can also see where its bars, parlors, and shops were on the ground floor. On the first floor, it still has:
- mostly original bedrooms, each with a wash basin
- rooms opening off a central hallway and onto wide verandahs
- separate bathrooms for men and women off the back verandah
- a central lounge for guests
It also has decorative plaster ceilings in the public areas downstairs. The rooms upstairs have timber ceilings. It has large timber details, including built-in cupboards.
The place is important because of its aesthetic significance. The hotel is on an important corner. It is the largest of Mossman's three hotels. It stands out in the town. It also fits in with other 1930s buildings nearby. These include the Mossman Shire Hall and the former National Bank of Australasia.
