Hotel Cecil, North Ipswich facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Hotel Cecil |
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Hotel Cecil, 2009
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| Location | 15 Lowry Street, North Ipswich, City of Ipswich, Queensland, Australia |
| Design period | 1870s - 1890s (late 19th century) |
| Built | 1887 - 1999 |
| Official name: Hotel Cecil, Imperial Hotel | |
| Type | state heritage (built) |
| Designated | 21 October 1992 |
| Reference no. | 600603 |
| Significant period | 1880s (fabric) 1887-ongoing (historical use) |
| Significant components | stained glass window/s |
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The Hotel Cecil is a historic building in North Ipswich, Australia. It is located at 15 Lowry Street. This building was constructed between 1887 and 1999. It was originally known as the Imperial Hotel. The Hotel Cecil is listed on the Queensland Heritage Register because of its important history. Since 1998, the building has been home to the Jets Leagues Club.
Contents
The Story of Hotel Cecil
The first hotel on this spot was called the Unity Hotel. It opened in 1880 and was run by William Frederick Larter. In 1883, James Cooper took over the hotel. He changed its name to the Imperial Hotel in 1887. A newspaper article from April 1887 mentioned the "recently built and furnished" Imperial Hotel. It was located at the corner of Downs and Lowry Streets.
Changes in Ownership
The new Imperial Hotel was quite popular. Its opening might have caused another hotel, the Royal Engineer's Hotel, to close. That hotel had been open since the mid-1860s. In April 1888, John Abbott took over the Imperial Hotel. However, by April 1889, the hotel was part of John Abbott's estate. Soon after, in August 1889, James Cooper got the license back.
Losing and Regaining a License
At one point, there were too many hotels in Ipswich. Local residents wanted some of them to close. The Imperial Hotel was one of three that lost its license in April 1891. But in July 1891, the National Workmen's Club applied for a club license for the building. Even with some questions, the license was approved.
Becoming Hotel Cecil
In January 1904, the building was officially named the Hotel Cecil. Thomas Murray was granted the license. The license changed hands several times over the years. W Osborne took over in 1905. By 1911, Alexander G Burnett was in charge. His wife, Catherine, seemed to take over in 1918. Many different people have run the hotel since then.
A New Chapter as Jets Leagues Club
In 1998, the Ipswich Jets rugby league club bought the building. It stopped being a hotel and became a licensed club. This new club was named the Jets Leagues Club. In 1999, the building was made bigger. A new dining area and gaming room were added along Lowry Street. The middle part of the building, which used to be a drive-through bottle shop, became a dining courtyard. The new parts of the building were designed to look like the original hotel.
What Does Hotel Cecil Look Like?
The Hotel Cecil is a two-story building made of brick. It has a smooth, finished surface that looks like cut stone. It stands at the corner of Down and Lowry Streets in North Ipswich. It was built in 1887.
Outside Features
The ground floor walls have a continuous ledge. Above this, there are rounded openings with decorative frames. The main entrance is on Down Street. It has a large timber door with side windows and a rounded window above. This window is decorated with leadlights that say 'Hotel Cecil 1887'. It also has stained glass panels showing local plants. There are other entrances at the building's corner and along Lowry Street. The windows in the main bar areas are pairs of rounded double-hung windows with circular lights above.
Verandahs and Balconies
There are verandahs with timber posts and decorative cast iron railings. These extend over the footpath. Above them are balconies on both street sides. The balconies also have timber posts and cast iron railings. Pairs of French doors with fanlights above open onto these balconies.
Roof and Parapet
Above the curved balcony roof, the walls have decorative moldings. These are broken up by flat, column-like shapes called pilasters. These pilasters stick up above the top edge of the wall, which hides the corrugated iron roof. In the center of the wall facing each street, there is a curved gable. This gable has the words HOTEL CECIL A.D. 1887 raised on it.
Inside the Building
The inside of the hotel has been updated. The new design copies details from the time the building was first built. Some original parts on the ground floor still remain. These include the decorative moldings, ceilings, and ceiling roses. The cedar fireplace mantle and staircase are also original. The walls of the stair hall are also from the original building. The upper floor is mostly unchanged. It still has its original layout and woodwork. The back verandah has been enclosed, but the back staircase is still there.
Recent Additions
In 1915, a sloped roof addition was made to the hotel. This included three windows facing Lowry Street. The more recent expansion involved removing this sloped roof. The building was extended with several sections and a gable roof. This new part connects to a single-story wing with a parapet. This end wing now holds the bottle shop and a new entrance to the hotel. These new additions look very similar to the original building's design.
Why is Hotel Cecil a Heritage Site?
The Hotel Cecil was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 21 October 1992. It met several important requirements to be listed.
Showing Queensland's History
The former Hotel Cecil helps us understand how Ipswich grew in the 1880s. During this time, older, simpler buildings were replaced by bigger, more impressive ones. This showed that Ipswich was growing as a place to live and as a strong industrial and business center.
Beautiful Design
The former Hotel Cecil is important because of its beautiful design. It is a great example of a mid-Victorian hotel. It also adds a lot to the look of the street.
Important to the Community
The hotel has a special connection with the local community. It has been a place for social gatherings and activities since it opened in 1887.
