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Waterloo Bay Hotel
Waterloo Bay Hotel, 2014 01.JPG
Waterloo Bay Hotel, 2014
Location 75 Berrima Street, Wynnum, City of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Design period 1870s - 1890s (late 19th century)
Built 1889, extended 1918
Architect George Henry Male Addison
Official name: Waterloo Bay Hotel
Type state heritage (built)
Designated 28 July 2000
Reference no. 601729
Significant period 1880s, 1910s (fabric)
1889-ongoing (historical use)
Significant components lead light/s, tree
Builders George Gibbs
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The Waterloo Bay Hotel is a special old building in Wynnum, a suburb of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. It's located at 75 Berrima Street. This hotel was first built in 1889 by a local stonemason named George Gibbs. Later, in 1918, it was made bigger with a design by architect George Henry Male Addison.

The hotel is important because it shows how Wynnum grew into a popular seaside town. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 28 July 2000, which means it's a protected historical site.

History of the Waterloo Bay Hotel

StateLibQld 1 196663 Waterloo Bay Hotel in the Brisbane suburb of Wynnum, 1940
Waterloo Bay Hotel in the Brisbane suburb of Wynnum, 1940

The first part of the Waterloo Bay Hotel was built in 1889 by George Gibbs. He was a local stonemason. The hotel was made larger in 1918. This work was designed by a Brisbane architect, GHM Addison. The hotel also had big updates in the 1980s and late 1990s.

Wynnum's Early Days

The areas of Wynnum and Manly were once known by different names. The first land sales happened in 1860. This was near Lytton and around Waterloo Bay.

A big change came with the Cleveland railway line. This train line opened on 1 November 1889. Wynnum and Manly were the only train stations along the bay.

The railway helped the area grow fast. By the early 1900s, Wynnum was a popular seaside resort. Many people traveled from Brisbane by train for weekend trips.

Building the Hotel

George Gibbs, a stonemason, built the Waterloo Bay Hotel in 1889. He was born in Cornwall, England. Gibbs bought land on Mary Street (now Berrima Street) in May 1889. He then started building the hotel.

He applied for a special permit, called a license, to run the hotel. This was approved by the South Brisbane Licensing Courts. The Brisbane Courier newspaper said the hotel was "complete and ready for occupation" on 7 November.

The Waterloo Bay Hotel opened its doors on 6 November 1889. This was just five days after the new train line opened.

Hotel Owners and Changes

George Gibbs owned the hotel until 1892. He sold it because he was not well. Sarah Jane King bought the hotel in March 1892.

Over the next few years, the hotel had a few different owners. William Morris owned it in 1895. Helen Rankin Turner owned it from 1896.

William Denis O'Connor bought the hotel in August 1898. He owned it for a very long time, until he passed away in 1950.

Music and More Space

Sarah Baird took over running the hotel in May 1908. Her husband, Robert, was the person officially in charge. After he died, Sarah became the licensee.

In 1911, Sarah asked for permission to have music at the hotel every Saturday. This was a big deal back then. The Waterloo Bay Hotel was one of the first hotels in the area to have regular music.

In February 1918, William Denis O'Connor decided to make the hotel bigger. He hired architect GHM Addison for the job. They added a new public bar downstairs. They also built more private rooms upstairs for guests.

After O'Connor died in 1950, the hotel was managed by trustees. In 1956, a company called Queensland Brewery Ltd leased the hotel.

Modern Updates

In 1985, the lease changed to Ashwick (Qld). Then, in 1987, Moreton Bay Holdings took over the property.

In November 1989, the hotel celebrated its 100th birthday. There was a week-long party! The Bayside Bulletin newspaper wrote that the hotel was "serving the community as never before."

During the 1980s, the hotel added a beer garden and a restaurant. More updates were done in late 1999. Today, the Waterloo Bay Hotel is still a key part of the Wynnum community.

What the Hotel Looks Like

The Waterloo Bay Hotel is on a unique piece of land in Wynnum. It's shaped like a triangle. It's bordered by Berrima Street and Bay and Byrnside Terraces.

There's a large, old Moreton Bay Fig Tree in one corner of the property.

The Original Building

The first part of the hotel, built in 1889, has two floors. It's made of stone. The roof is sloped and covered with corrugated iron. There are two chimneys on the roof.

The ground floor has a covered porch, called a verandah. The first floor has a balcony. Both have fancy iron railings and wooden posts. The main entrance has double wooden doors. They have special glass designs called leadlight.

Inside, on the ground floor, the ceiling in the lounge bar has decorative plaster. An opening leads to the beer garden, which was added later. There's an original wooden staircase with carvings.

Upstairs, on the first floor, there are rooms for guests. These rooms have windows that open up and down. They also have special metal ceilings. Each room has French doors that open onto the balcony.

The 1918 Extension

The part added in 1918 also has two floors. It's made of brick. The roof is sloped and covered with corrugated iron.

Inside, the bar is along one wall. There's a big window with frosted glass that has a lighthouse design. The bar area is open. It has original plaster ceilings with decorative edges.

The bar area connects to the gaming room. This part was added in the 1960s. The second floor of the 1918 section is used for guest rooms.

Why the Hotel is Important

The Waterloo Bay Hotel is listed on the Queensland Heritage Register. This means it's recognized as a very important historical place. It meets several special requirements.

Showing Queensland's History

The hotel was built in 1889. It grew as the railway came to Wynnum. This shows how Wynnum became a popular seaside resort in the late 1800s and early 1900s.

The train line to Wynnum was built for fun trips. The hotel was able to welcome many visitors because of this. The Waterloo Bay Hotel has been a hotel for over 100 years. It's one of the few old buildings left from when the railway opened.

A Great Example of a Hotel

The Waterloo Bay Hotel looks similar to the Grand View Hotel in Cleveland. It's a good example of a large, two-story stone hotel. It has a big verandah downstairs and a balcony upstairs. These features include wooden posts and decorative iron railings.

Beautiful and Well-Known

The hotel has been a key part of the Wynnum area for over 110 years. It's a well-known landmark. This means it's easy to spot and people recognize it.

Important to the Community

The Waterloo Bay Hotel has played a big role in the social life of the Wynnum community. It has been a place for people to gather and enjoy themselves for a very long time.

Connected to Important People

The hotel is important because of its connection to George Gibbs. He was the local stonemason who built it. He later retired and stayed in Wynnum. A street in Wynnum, Gibbs Street, is named after him.

The 1918 extension was designed by GHM Addison. He was a famous Brisbane architect. He also designed other well-known buildings. These include the Old Museum Building and The Mansions.

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