flames

Allan Cunningham was responsible for the exploration of the region in 1827, and this was followed by European settlement in the 1840s. Established in 1848, the town of Chinchilla was named after Chinchilla Station which was an extension of Wongongera Station. The name chinchilla is believed to be derived from the aboriginal word “tintinchillla” or “Jinchilla” indicating cypress pine possibly recorded by an explorer Ludwig Leichardt. The history of the Commercial Hotel dates back to 1877, and since that time the hotel has been reconstructed four times due to fires. The first took place in 1904, after just 27 years of trading. In 2020 Waymark Hotels, a privately-owned Australian hotel and property group acquired the Commercial Hotel Motel Chinchilla. Built over a period of more than 60 years and with a heritage originating in the Northern Territory and Queensland outback, the group has been leading projects that have brought vital infrastructure and amenities to communities since the 1950s. ​ The style of the Commercial Hotel logo encompasses a contemporary edge for an otherwise historic venue, and its chosen color palette draws on earthy tones from the Chinchilla region including petrified wood. Source: www.thecommercialchinchilla.com.au/about-us/history/

Title: They Tested Our Mettle

I like the caption on this one. A little patriotism added by the photographer...

In 1887, Mr. George H. Lewis was licensee of the West End Hotel. The hotel also included his blacksmith and wheelwright business. In 1891, Mr. Patrick O’Reilly had the licence for the West End Hotel, and it was owned by Mrs Mary O’Connell. 29 January 1899 – Transfer of West End Hotel license from Mrs. Annie McLoughlin to Mr. Joseph A. Catip. Western Champion, 1 December 1896 reports about the hotel narrowly escaping fire after one of the top floor bedrooms was in a fire. In 1909, the West End Hotel narrowly survived the big fire that swept along the street on 10 August, destroying seventeen buildings. Mrs Ellen Dobbins was the owner and licensee of the West End Hotel from 1912. January 1913 – License of the West End Hotel is transferred from Mrs. Ellen Dobbins to Mrs. Elizabeth Donlan. 10 October 1914 – ownership and license of the West End Hotel is transferred from Mrs. Elizabeth Donlan to Mr. Bernard Charles. In October 1915, it wasn’t so lucky, being destroyed by a fire that started in Beech Street probably behind Butler’s Auction rooms. Tenders were called for the erection of a new hotel in November 1915. The new hotel, in a grander style, was operating in 1916 from the same site. Source: barcaldine-peopleplacesthings.org/west-end-hotel/