Prince Consort Hotel facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Prince Consort Hotel |
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Prince Consort Hotel façade
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| Location | 230 Wickham Street, Fortitude Valley, City of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia |
| Design period | 1870s - 1890s (late 19th century) |
| Built | 1887 - 1888 (with extensions in 1932) |
| Built for | John Daniel Heal |
| Architect | Richard Gailey |
| Official name: Prince Consort Hotel | |
| Type | state heritage (built) |
| Designated | 21 October 1992 |
| Reference no. | 600212 |
| Significant period | 1887-c. 1942 (fabric) 1888-ongoing (historical- use as Hotel) |
| Significant components | air raid shelter, shop/s, cellar |
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The Prince Consort Hotel is a historic building located at 230 Wickham Street in Fortitude Valley, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. It was designed by the famous architect Richard Gailey and built between 1887 and 1888. Later, some parts of the hotel were extended. Today, it is recognized as a special heritage site and is listed on the Queensland Heritage Register. In 2014, the hotel was known as the Elephant Hotel.
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Hotel History
The Prince Consort Hotel you see today is a large, three-story building made of stone. It was built in 1887-1888 for a Brisbane hotel owner named John Daniel Heal.
Early Beginnings
This was actually the second Prince Consort Hotel on the same spot. The first one was built around 1863. John Daniel Heal first leased this older hotel. In 1879, he bought the hotel and also purchased some land next to it. The old building was then taken down to make way for a much bigger and newer hotel.
Building the New Hotel
The new Prince Consort Hotel took about a year to build. Architect Richard Gailey designed it. He asked for construction bids in mid-1887.
The builder was William Ferguson, and the project cost about £9,400. The hotel was finished in August 1888. Sadly, Ferguson passed away before the hotel was completed, but his team finished the work.
Building Boom in Brisbane
Building the hotel in the 1880s was part of a big construction boom in Queensland. This was a time when the economy was growing very fast. During the late 1880s, many large hotels were built in Fortitude Valley.
Richard Gailey designed four of these big hotels: the Wickham Hotel (1885), the Empire Hotel (1887), the Jubilee Hotel (1887), and the Prince Consort Hotel. These hotels were very large and had many rooms for guests. They were also built in important locations. Gailey also designed the Regatta Hotel in Toowong in 1886.
Hotel Features
When the new Prince Consort Hotel opened, it had one of the biggest bars in Brisbane. It also featured three sitting rooms, a large dining room, and a billiard room for games. There was a kitchen, a cellar, six bathrooms, and twenty-eight bedrooms for guests. On the ground floor, there were also four large shops.
On the first floor, there was a long reception area called the Club Room. It could be divided into two rooms using a folding wall. This room was often used for meetings by local groups.
In 1935, the hotel was updated. An architect named John Patrick Donoghue oversaw the changes. The hotel's original curved awning, which was supported by posts, was likely replaced with the flat, modern awning you see today.
Hotel Design
The Prince Consort Hotel is made up of two three-story buildings. They are connected by wooden verandahs.
Main Building Appearance
The main building faces Wickham Street. Its outer walls are covered to look like large, smooth stone blocks. The top two floors have balconies with fancy cast-iron posts and railings. Each floor has different designs. The top balcony has a curved metal roof. Above that, there's a decorative stone band and a wall with two triangular sections and concrete railings and urns.
French doors with decorative windows above them open onto the balconies. These doors are placed between tall, flat columns called pilasters. The main changes to the street side of the building are on the ground floor, where the shop fronts have been updated. The original curved awning was replaced with a flat one that sticks out without posts.
Rear Building and Connections
The second building is at the back, set at a right angle to the main building. The two buildings are joined by verandahs. Even though parts of these verandahs have been enclosed, they still have many of their original wooden railings and decorations.
Some smaller additions have been built at the back of the property. In the yard behind the hotel, there is a large air raid shelter. This shelter is now used as a storage room.
Inside the Hotel
Inside, the hotel still has its original layout. Many of the details and finishes from the 1880s are still there. The basement under the main building has openings in the walls. The bars on the ground floor have been updated several times over the years. The main staircase is still in its original condition, as are the plaster decorations and wooden fittings.
Why It's a Heritage Site
The Prince Consort Hotel was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on October 21, 1992. This means it is considered very important to Queensland's history and culture.
Historical Importance
The hotel shows how Fortitude Valley grew very quickly in the late 1800s. It is a great example of a large, fancy hotel built during that time.
Architectural Style
The Prince Consort Hotel adds to the look of Wickham Street. It is one of several hotels designed by architect Richard Gailey. These hotels are important because of their impressive size, their use of decorative cast-iron, and their classic design details. They really add to the unique look of Brisbane's buildings.
