During the past two weeks, we enjoyed a driving vacation up north. We were once again delighted by the breathtaking views along the coast and through mountainous regions. There were many fascinating places to explore. Additionally, we were captivated by the old hotels in Queensland that were constructed many years ago. I captured some of these on my phone.
These hotels used to accommodate a wide range of people. They were once a home away from home for travelling salesmen. They catered to prospectors who were on their way to the prosperous mineral fields of central Queensland, and individuals who visited towns with the intention of spending their hard-earned money.
Some of these hotels have been lovingly preserved, with the ornamental iron railings restored and painted. Others have endured the effects of time and weather. As mining booms came and went, populations dwindled, and storms wreaked havoc, some hotels suffered the consequences.
Here's a selection from some towns of North Queensland.
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| Royal Private Hotel, Charters Towers built by Ben Toll in 1888 for former miner William Romberg |
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| Commercial Hotel, Clermont This building was moved to its present location after a flood in 1916 |
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| Molly Malone’s, Townsville (est. 1863) originally Tattersalls Hotel |
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| Yungaburra Hotel, Yungaburra 2nd largest timber hotel in the southern hemisphere opened in 1910 |
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| Exchange Hotel, Mossman built for Irish publicans Dennis and Teresa O’Brien in 1896 |
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| Crown Hotel, Innisfail |
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| Malpass Hotel, Home Hill Opened October 1924, named after its owner Joseph Malpass |
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| Grand View Hotel, Bowen (est. 1864) History |
The queen of them all in Rockhampton
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| Heritage Hotel, Rockhampton (originally Commercial Hotel) Built 1898 - History |
And a last one along the highway that amused us. Yes, that is a crocodile lurking above the entrance but thankfully not a live one!
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| Koumala Hotel, Koumala 1939 - Koumala: Where's that? |
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