Mercure Hotel Canberra facts for kids
| Mercure Hotel Canberra | |
| Hotel facts and statistics | |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 35°16′33″S 149°08′34″E / 35.27583°S 149.14278°E |
| Opening date | 1927 |
| Developer | Federal Capital Commission |
| Architect | Burcham Clamp and Finch |
| Management | Accor Hotels |
| Owner | Schwartz Family Company |
| No. of restaurants | 1 |
| No. of rooms | 127 |
| Parking | Available, complementary |
| No. of floors | 2 |
The Mercure Hotel Canberra is a famous four-star hotel in Canberra, Australia. It's located in the suburb of Braddon on Limestone Avenue. This hotel is very close to the important Australian War Memorial.
This building has a long history. It was once known as the Hotel Ainslie and later as Olims. It's special because it shows a unique style of building called English Arts and Crafts architecture. Because of its historical importance, it's listed on the ACT Heritage Register.
Contents
A Look Back: The Hotel's History
From Hostel to Hotel
The building that is now the Mercure Hotel Canberra was built between 1926 and 1927. It was originally one of eight "hostels." These hostels were like large guesthouses. They were built to house government workers. These workers were moving from Melbourne to Canberra. Canberra was becoming the new capital city of Australia.
In 1932, Australia faced a tough time called the Great Depression. Many people lost their jobs. During this time, the building was allowed to sell alcohol. This helped it become a public hotel. After some changes, it opened as a hotel.
New Owners, New Names
In 1950, the hotel was sold to a company called Rex Investments. Its name changed to the Hotel Ainslie Rex. Later, in 1989, it was sold again. The hotel was then renamed "Olims." Many local people still call it Olims today.
Before this sale, a big addition was built in 1987. This added 87 new rooms to the hotel. The bar and restaurant areas were also updated. The hotel started to host many events and conferences. A new outdoor area for drinks was also built. This new part looked very modern. It changed how the hotel looked from Limestone Avenue.
Modern Updates and Challenges
In 2011, the hotel got a new name, Mercure Canberra. This happened when Accor Hotels started managing it. The hotel also had a big makeover that cost $8 million. The goal was to attract more visitors from around the world.
There was a plan to add 125 more rooms. However, the National Trust of Australia disagreed with this idea. They worried it would change the hotel's historic look. Because of their concerns, the plan was made smaller.
Fun Events and Helping Others
The Mercure Canberra hotel hosts the Canberra Craft Beer Festival every year. This festival has been held there since 2008.
The hotel also takes part in a program called Room for Hope. This program lets guests donate $1 when they pay for their room. This money goes to help different charities.
