Although Queens Hotel Townsville no longer operates as a hotel, I am lucky to remember a time when it did.
My first memory is of attending a wedding breakfast there. It had a grand sweeping staircase into the foyer – the perfect platform for the bride to launch the bridal bocquet from. The polished dance floor opened onto the downstairs verandah – a romantic place to adjourn to.
I remember well when a ground floor coffee shop opened on The Strand and Wickham Street corner of the building. Being the only late night coffee shop in town made it very popular with us (then) teenagers.
The upstairs hotel rooms that opened to long verandah views across Anzac Park were a favourite place for graziers and mine workers to stay when they came to town.
When life as a hotel ended the building was used as a Television Station head office, and is now privately owned.
Wouldn’t it be wonderful to see this beautiful building return to life as a hotel… The Queens Hotel. Townsville.
QUEENS HOTEL TOWNSVILLE AUSTRALIA 2014
CLICK HERE TO VIEW A 1926 SILENT MOVIE OF “QUEENS HOTEL TOWNSVILLE”- It takes less than one minute.
Points of Interest.
In 1899 John Tyack purchased the timber version of The Queens Hotel, developing it into it’s present state in the early 1920’s, although he did not live to see it’s completion. During his time as the Mayor of Townsville he encouraged the development of the Strand and parklands at the front of his hotel.
The hotel was used as an American Officer’s Club during WWII.
There is a rumour that an underground tunnel connects this building with Customs House which was used by the military during WWII. Tunnels have been found leading from the dungeons beneath Customs house but none to the hotel as yet.
Thanks for joining me for Tuesday in Townsville. Have you been to the Queens Hotel Townsville or visited the tunnels beneath Customs House?
Fantastic Friday Bride with Balloons in Antayla
How fabulous for Townsville that the hotel is being restored and once again will have people sweeping down the staircase!
Hi Jenny, The hotel is privately owned and looks good from the outside. Inside I think it may be used as storage. It would be nice to see it open to the public again.:)
What a shame its not opened up to the public 🙂
What a great old building, be good to see it used for Dances, Weddings and Functions – would love to find that secret tunnel 🙂
Gosh I wish it was open too Lisa. I hope it will open to the public in some way in the future.
I enjoyed that little movie so much! 🙂 How delightful to see the people sitting, reading, visiting, just like we would today. 🙂
I was so happy to find that movie Krista. It made me remember when I was there. 🙂
One of my ancestors was the first Mayor of Townsville. The place reminds me of Launceston in Tasmania except a lot hotter and a lot less crappy! lol
Ha ha – small world 🙂
Hi Luke, are you related to John Melton Black? If so, I’d really love to hear any family memories of him, the Criterion Hotel, Andrew Ball, Mark Watt Reid, Charles Saville Rowe and any other family memories of early Townsville. Thanks, Lori-Anne