Hotel Kurrajong facts for kids

The Hotel Kurrajong is a special old hotel in Barton, Australian Capital Territory, a suburb of Canberra. It's located very close to Parliament House, where Australia's laws are made. This hotel is important because it has a strong connection to Australia's political past. For example, Prime Minister Ben Chifley lived here for many years, even when he was the leader of the country from 1945 to 1949. Sadly, he passed away in his room at the hotel in 1951.

A Look Back: Hotel Kurrajong's Story

Building a Home for Public Servants

The Hotel Kurrajong was built between 1925 and 1927. Its main purpose was to provide homes for government workers, called public servants. These workers were moving to Canberra because the Parliament was relocating from Melbourne to the new capital city.

The hotel was designed by John Smith Murdoch, a top government architect. He used a style called "Garden Pavilion." This design fits well with Walter Burley Griffin's idea for Canberra, which was planned as a "garden city" with lots of green spaces. Another hotel, the Hotel Canberra, was built in a similar style nearby.

Surviving Tough Times

During the Great Depression, a time of economic hardship, fewer government workers were needed in Canberra. This meant less demand for hotel rooms. For a while, the Hotel Kurrajong and the Hotel Canberra were the only hotels still open in the city.

A Home for Politicians

Like the Hotel Canberra, the Kurrajong was often used by politicians when Parliament was meeting. It was said that politicians from the Australian Labor Party preferred the Kurrajong, while those from more conservative parties stayed at the Canberra.

A famous Labor politician, Ben Chifley, lived at the Hotel Kurrajong from 1940 to 1951. Even when he became Prime Minister of Australia, he chose to stay at the hotel instead of the official Prime Minister's residence, The Lodge.

The Passing of a Prime Minister

On June 13, 1951, Prime Minister Chifley was in his room at the hotel. He had decided not to go to a special party celebrating 50 years since Australia became a nation (Federation). That evening, he had a heart attack. Even though he was taken to the Canberra Community Hospital, doctors could not save him.

Changes and Renovations

By the late 1970s, fewer guests were staying at the hotel. It eventually closed and was used as offices for Parliament staff. In 1993, the ACT Government took over the building with a long-term lease and reopened it as a hotel in 1995.

When it reopened, the ACT Government also started the Australian International Hotel School at the Hotel Kurrajong. This school taught students how to manage hotels and work in the hospitality industry.

In 2013, the hotel was sold to a partnership between Toga Hotels Group and NRMA. The new owners planned big renovations to make the hotel even better, giving it a 4.5-star rating. They wanted to keep the hotel's historic feel while making it modern. The hotel closed for renovations on July 11, 2014, and reopened on February 11, 2015.

Protecting its History: Heritage Listings

The Hotel Kurrajong is recognized as an important historic building. It was added to the Register of the National Estate in 1993. This list helps protect places that are important to Australia's history. It has also been on the Australian Institute of Architects' Register of Significant Twentieth Century Architecture since 1984.

The hotel was one of eight hostels planned when Canberra was first being built. Because of its importance, it is also protected by the ACT Heritage Register. This means that any changes to the building must first be approved by the National Capital Authority to make sure its history is preserved.