Victoria Park Hotel facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Victoria Park Hotel, Townsville |
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Victoria Park Hotel, 1995
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| Location | 266 Boundary Street, South Townsville, City of Townsville, Queensland, Australia |
| Design period | 1870s - 1890s (late 19th century) |
| Built | 1895 - 1896 |
| Architect | Tunbridge & Tunbridge |
| Official name: Victoria Park Hotel | |
| Type | state heritage (built) |
| Designated | 21 October 1992 |
| Reference no. | 600882 |
| Significant period | 1890s (fabric) 1896-ongoing (historical use) |
| Builders | Jeremiah Dempsey |
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The Victoria Park Hotel was a special old hotel in South Townsville, Queensland, Australia. It was designed by a famous architectural team called Tunbridge & Tunbridge. A builder named Jeremiah Dempsey built it between 1895 and 1896. This hotel was added to the Queensland Heritage Register in 1992 because it was an important historical building. Sadly, a big fire completely destroyed it on June 8, 2018.
The Hotel's Story
The Victoria Park Hotel was the second hotel built on this spot. It opened its doors in 1896. The well-known architectural firm Tunbridge and Tunbridge designed it. A local builder, Jeremiah Dempsey, constructed the building.
How Townsville Grew
Townsville started in 1864, founded by John Melton Black and Robert Towns. It quickly became an important port of entry (a place where ships can officially enter a country). By 1873, ships from all over the world, not just Australia, were coming to Townsville. The port facilities were improved to handle bigger ships. By 1880, Townsville was a key port for several gold mining areas. It also had the first part of the Great Northern railway line heading west. This made Townsville even more important for trade and business.
South Townsville's Development
South Townsville was one of the first areas settled in Townsville. It soon had many hotels, homes, and even a hospital. By 1890, the suburb had grown a lot. Back then, most people lived close to their jobs because transport was expensive. South Townsville had many industries like the Cleveland Foundry, railway workshops, and boat building. These jobs attracted many families to live there. More growth happened between 1890 and 1895. New businesses like Rooney & Company's sawmill and the Ross River Meatworks brought even more people to South Townsville.
Choosing the Location
The corner of Main (now Boundary Street) and Sixth Avenue was a perfect spot for the new hotel. It was near the Victoria Foundry, which had just opened. It was also close to the homes in South Townsville and Railway Estate. Plus, it was very close to Victoria Park. In 1891, Victoria Park was the only good place in Townsville to play football. William Casey owned the land at that time, buying it in 1888.
The Architects and Builders
The Victoria Park Hotel was designed by Tunbridge and Tunbridge in 1895. Walter Howard Tunbridge was an architect who trained in England. He moved to Australia in 1884 and worked in Townsville. In 1886, he started his own business. His younger brother, Oliver, joined him in 1887. Their company became a very important architectural and engineering firm in North Queensland. Jeremiah Dempsey, a local builder, constructed the hotel.
A Fiery Start
Something surprising happened with the first hotel building. On October 9, 1895, the night before the hotel was supposed to open, it was destroyed by fire! But they didn't give up. A second building, very similar in design, was started on the same spot. In November 1895, before the second building was finished, the land was leased to Samuel Allen & Company. They then sublet it to Jane Guthrie. She opened the new hotel, which cost £1300, in January 1896.
Serving the Community
The hotel mainly served working people from the nearby wharves, railway, meatworks, and foundry. On weekends, sportsmen from Victoria Park also visited. Over the years, the hotel changed owners and managers many times. In 1898, Northern Breweries (Qld) Ltd took over the lease. Samuel Allen and Company bought the property in 1907 and owned it until 1945.
A Beloved Local Spot
As time went on, other sports venues opened, and some local industries closed. The area around the hotel changed, but the hotel, known locally as the "Vic Park," remained popular. It had many loyal customers who loved it. In 1982, there was a plan to tear down the hotel. The community was very upset and protested loudly. Thanks to the efforts of the hotel's customers, who got media attention and public support, the building was saved. It then had major repairs and renovations. The bar area was made bigger, and new toilets were built. However, the hotel's general look and layout stayed mostly the same.
The Final Fire
On June 8, 2018, the Victoria Park Hotel was completely destroyed by fire. The fire was so strong that firefighters couldn't even go inside the building at first. Reports said that all that was left was "a large pile of rubble." The hotel was actually for sale when the fire happened, with an asking price of $2.5 million.
What the Hotel Looked Like
The Victoria Park Hotel was a two-storey building made of timber. It was located at the corner of Boundary Street and Sixth Avenue in South Townsville. It had main sides facing both streets and an entrance right on the corner.
Building Design
The hotel was shaped roughly like an "L." Its roof, main structure, and awnings (shelters over windows or doors) were cut off at the corner facing the street intersection. The roof was hipped (sloping on all sides) and covered with corrugated iron. The hotel had visible timber studs on the outside. It was shaded by a balcony on the top floor and a wider awning at street level. These awnings were also made of corrugated iron and held up by timber posts. The balcony on the upper floor had a wooden dowel balustrading (a row of small posts supporting a handrail). The hotel had several entrances on the ground floor. The upper floor was for rooms, which was a common design for two-storey hotels in Queensland.
Inside the Hotel
The main entrance was at the street corner. It opened into a large public bar area. From there, on the Boundary Street side, there was a lounge and dining area. The original timber ceiling was still there, above a newer suspended ceiling. The kitchen and pantries were in a single-storey part at the back, along Boundary Street.
The upper floor had rooms for the manager and six guest bedrooms. These rooms were off a central hallway. Guest rooms that faced the verandah had French doors. New modern toilets were built on the back verandah on the south-west side. Behind the hotel, there was a beer garden. There was also a brick butcher's shop from the 1950s on a nearby property.
Why It Was Special
The Victoria Park Hotel was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on October 21, 1992. This means it was recognized as an important historical place.
Showing History
The Victoria Park Hotel was built in 1896. It showed how South Townsville, an early suburb of Townsville, grew over time. The people who visited the hotel were mostly working people from the factories and workshops nearby. It was also popular with people who used Victoria Park for sports on weekends.
A Rare Example
This building was a great example of a two-storey timber hotel from the late 1800s. It was the last hotel of its kind left in Townsville, making it quite rare.
Keeping Its Original Look
The hotel was a good example of its type because it hadn't changed much. The outside looked almost the same as it did when it was built. Even after renovations, the inside layout remained very similar.
Important to the Community
The Victoria Park Hotel was a well-designed timber building on a noticeable corner. It added a lot to the look and feel of South Townsville. People in the community clearly loved it. The hotel served the South Townsville community for over a hundred years. It was a popular meeting place, especially after sporting events. The community's strong feelings for the hotel were clear in 1982. That's when its regular customers successfully campaigned to stop the building from being torn down.
Connected to Famous Architects
The hotel is also important because it was designed by Tunbridge and Tunbridge. It's a good example of their work on commercial buildings in North Queensland.
