Treasury Hotel facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Treasury Hotel |
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Treasury Hotel, 2018
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| Location | 175 George Street, Brisbane City, City of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia |
| Design period | 1870s - 1890s (late 19th century) |
| Built | 1887 - 1888 |
| Architect | John Hall & Son |
| Architectural style(s) | Classicism |
| Official name: Treasury Hotel | |
| Type | state heritage (built) |
| Designated | 4 November 1993 |
| Reference no. | 600115 |
| Significant period | 1887-1888 (fabric) |
| Builders | Abraham James |
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The Treasury Hotel is a very old and important building in Brisbane City, Queensland, Australia. It's located at 175 George Street. This hotel was designed by a company called John Hall & Son and built by Abraham James between 1887 and 1888. Because of its history and special design, it was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on November 4, 1993.
Contents
The Story of the Treasury Hotel
The Treasury Hotel was built in 1887-1888. It took the place of an older hotel called the Dunmore Arms, which had been there since 1865.
In 1885, a person named James Hunter rented some land on the corner of George and Elizabeth Streets from William Cribb. He planned to build a big business area there.
In 1886, Hunter built office buildings, including Treasury Chambers and Francis House. This spot was a smart choice because the new Treasury Building was being built right across the street, making the area very important. However, Hunter faced money problems and couldn't finish his plan.
In 1887, he rented the Dunmore Arms site to Denis O'Connor, a well-known hotel owner in Brisbane. O'Connor hired John Hall & Son to design a new hotel. Abraham James was the builder, and the cost was £3,999.
The new hotel was named the Treasury Hotel, just like the government offices across the street. It offered "nicely decorated" rooms for "Families and Businessmen." In May 1889, O'Connor passed his rental agreement to George Back Cutbush, who managed the hotel until 1910.
In 1906, William Cribb gave the land to the YMCA. Later, in 1908, William Denis O'Connor became the new owner of the Treasury Hotel. The O'Connor family owned the hotel until the late 1950s.
In the late 1880s, there were many hotels in Brisbane. In 1889, George Street alone had nine hotels. Today, the Treasury Hotel and the Transcontinental Hotel are the only ones from that time that are still used as hotels on George Street. As of 2015, the hotel operates under the name "Irish Murphy's."
What the Hotel Looks Like
The Treasury Hotel is a three-story building with a basement. It stands on the corner of George and Elizabeth Streets. It has a classic design, similar to other important buildings nearby, like the Treasury Building.
Like many hotels, it's on a corner. The corner of the building is cut off, and this is where the main entrance used to be. The hotel was originally shaped like an "L." There was an arched path on George Street that led to the back of the building. This back area has now been built into the hotel itself.
On the main outer walls, called facades, there's a fancy decorative line above the roof of the first-floor balcony. The windows on the second floor have special sills and decorative tops called pediments. Above these, there are pairs of supports, called brackets, that hold up a decorative ledge, or cornice.
Above the cornice is a low wall called a parapet. Stone decorations, like urns, divide the parapet into sections. Some sections have railings, while others are solid and have the words "TREASURY HOTEL" written on them. On the Elizabeth Street side, the middle of the parapet has a triangular top, also called a pediment. A similar pediment is at the corner of the building, with a flagpole behind it.
The ground floor, below a street cover, has been changed and now has modern brickwork. The top two floors still have many of their original details. However, some of these are hidden by modern sun covers and a changed first-floor balcony. Inside, none of the original decorations remain because the building was fully updated in the late 1970s.
Why the Hotel is Special
The Treasury Hotel was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on November 4, 1993, because it meets certain important rules.
It shows how Queensland's history has changed. The Treasury Hotel helps us understand how hotels in Brisbane have developed over time.
It shows what a typical old city hotel looked like. The hotel is a good example of what an inner-city hotel from the 1800s was like.
It has special beauty and design. The Treasury Hotel is valued for its beautiful design. It stands out on the corner of George and Elizabeth Streets. It is also part of a group of buildings that look good together and face Queens Park.
Images for kids
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Dunmore Arms Hotel, the earlier hotel on the site of the Treasury Hotel, corner of George and Elizabeth Streets, 1886
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Illustration of the Treasury Hotel, circa 1889
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Treasury Hotel, 1906
