Queen's Hotel, Townsville facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Queen's Hotel |
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Former Queen's Hotel, 2010
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| Location | 12 The Strand, Townsville CBD, City of Townsville, Queensland, Australia |
| Design period | 1900 - 1914 (early 20th century) |
| Built | 1902 - 1920s |
| Official name: Telecasters North Queensland Ltd Building, Queens' Hotel | |
| Type | state heritage (built) |
| Designated | 21 October 1992 |
| Reference no. | 600936 |
| Significant period | 1900s-1920s (fabric) 1902- c. 1966 (historical use as hotel) WWII (use by US army). |
| Significant components | toilet block/earth closet/water closet, lead light/s, tower, loggia/s |
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The Queen's Hotel is a historic building in Townsville, Queensland, Australia. It used to be a fancy hotel. It was built in different parts between 1902 and the 1920s. People thought it was the best hotel in North Queensland back then. Today, it's known as the Telecasters North Queensland Ltd Building. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register in 1992 because of its special history.
A Look Back: The Hotel's History
The Queen's Hotel is a big, two-story building made of brick. It was built over many years. It was seen as the most beautiful hotel in North Queensland.
The very first Queen's Hotel was a two-story wooden building. It was built in 1872. It quickly became famous. Important visitors often stayed there.
In 1899, a man named John Henry Tyack bought the hotel. He wanted to build a new, bigger brick hotel. He held a competition for architects to design it. The winners were Eaton, Bates & Polin. They had an office in Townsville.
The new hotel was built in stages. The old wooden hotel stayed open while parts of the new one were built. In 1902, the first section of the new brick hotel was finished. This part included the eastern tower. More sections were added over the next few years. By 1905, a large brick wing was complete.
John Tyack was the hotel manager. He kept the hotel's reputation for great service. He was also involved in Townsville's local government. As Mayor of Townsville in 1912, he helped improve the area around the hotel. This included building a bandstand in 1913. Sadly, Tyack passed away in 1913. He didn't get to see his grand hotel fully finished.
After Tyack died, the hotel was managed by a trust. In the mid-1920s, more parts of the hotel were built. This included the western tower and the section along Wickham Street. The last wooden part of the old hotel was finally taken down.
These new additions cost a lot of money. They were designed by architect Walter Hunt. The work was finished by 1928. The new sections added many rooms. They also included a main entrance, dining room, and shops.
Through the 1920s and 1930s, the Queen's Hotel remained very popular. During World War II, Townsville was an important base. The Queen's Hotel was used by American army officers. After the war, the hotel slowly became less popular.
In 1977, Telecasters North Queensland Ltd bought the building. They fixed up the outside. They changed the inside into television and radio studios and offices.
In 2015, there was a plan to redevelop the area. This plan was called the King Street Precinct. It would include homes and shops. However, there was no specific plan for the old Queen's Hotel. As of 2016, the building was available to rent as office space.
What the Hotel Looks Like
The Queen's Hotel is on The Strand and also faces Wickham Street. It's a two-story building. It's made of brick with special decorated parts. The bricks were cleaned to remove old paint. The roof is made of metal and looks like the original one.
The side of the building facing The Strand has interesting designs. It has towers with rounded tops. There are decorative panels and wide eaves. The ground floor has arched walkways. The upper floor has balconies. Some of the ground floor walkways are now enclosed with glass. The open parts have iron railings and French doors. The balconies also have iron railings.
The side of the building on Wickham Street has a decorated wall at the corner. It has a wooden balcony with posts. Parts of the building at the back have been changed a lot. One of the original two-story toilet blocks is still there. A large television studio has been added. The back of the property is now a car park.
Inside, the building has been changed quite a bit. The main entrance hall has a beautiful wooden staircase. It has carved details and special lamps. There are also stained-glass windows. The ceiling in this area is high. It has plaster decorations and a skylight. Some original wooden features are still there. These include doors with etched glass.
The building now has false ceilings and air conditioning. Some areas have marble floors. The first floor is mostly office space. The old bedrooms were made bigger by removing walls.
Why It's a Heritage Site
The Queen's Hotel was added to the Queensland Heritage Register in 1992. This means it's an important historical place.
- It shows how Queensland's history developed.
The hotel was built between 1902 and the 1920s. It was once the most important hotel in North Queensland. It helps us understand how Townsville grew into a major city.
- It shows what a certain type of building looked like.
Enough of the building remains to see it as a large, grand, two-story brick hotel. It also shows the work of famous Queensland architects, Eaton, Bates and Polin.
- It's beautiful and important to look at.
The hotel is a well-known landmark in Townsville. It's important because of how its parts are put together. The quality of its remaining inside features is also special. It adds a lot to the look of The Strand street and Townsville city.
- It's important to the community.
The hotel is a well-known landmark in Townsville. It's important because of how its parts are put together. The quality of its remaining inside features is also special. It adds a lot to the look of The Strand street and Townsville city.
- It's connected to important people or groups in Queensland's history.
The building still shows what a large, grand, two-story brick hotel was like. It also shows the work of the Queensland architects Eaton, Bates and Polin.
