hotel

Queen's Hotel It is an extraordinary building that, in the 1920s and 1930s, was known as the best hotel in North Queensland. There is something of the British raj about the building with its Moghul cupolas and its long verandas at street level. It would not be out of place in India or Singapore. In its day it was the place where the graziers, coming to the coast for business or pleasure, would stay. In recent times it was used as a television studio. The Queensland Heritage Register describes the building as "The Strand elevation shows Art Nouveau and Indian/Colonial influences in its design, including turrets crowned by cupolas framing low tower forms along the northern frontage, decorative render panels, wide eaves and arcaded loggias to the ground floor with verandahs above. The two large and two small tower forms differ slightly in their design and proportions, with the two larger having a broad, recessed arched entry with a recessed loggia above and surmounted by a steep pitch ribbed metal roof. The smaller forms are surmounted by a rounded pediment. Sections of the ground floor arcaded loggias are enclosed with timber framed glazing, and the open sections have cast iron balustrade and french doors with fanlights. The verandah, off which french doors with fanlights also open, has paired timber posts with cast iron balustrade and valance. Metal stanchions have been added to the face of the brickwork for the purpose of tying the roof down, and sections of floor have been replaced with concrete. Four bays of the eastern end of the building have been demolished and the verandah now returns along this face to the rear." Source: www.aussietowns.com.au/town/townsville-qld

American Earl Crotchett, a cameraman for Universal Newsreels, was one of many overseas war correspondents operating in Australia during WWII. Earl was wounded in New Guinea by a Japanese bomb that was dropped on '17 mile airstrip' (Durand Airfield 17 miles from Port Moresby) during the Buna Campaign in late 1942. In this photo you can see his friends signing names to his plaster cast, on the steps of the Queens Hotel in Townsville which was used as accommodation for officers in World War II. During WWII, 'foxhole journalism' developed, focusing on accounts close to the action, and this saw large numbers of journalists killed and wounded. To date the Honour Roll of Australian journalists, photographers, cameramen and crew killed in action holds 32 names. Sixteen of those died reporting in conflict zones during WWII. Source: www.facebook.com/anzacsquarebrisbane/photos/a.56086881474...

Start here:
www.google.com/search?q=Holden%27s+Laharna+hotel&sca_...

www.ebay.com.au/itm/296003780386?srsltid=AfmBOopYj2D1aUgP...

www.facebook.com/DaughterofLaharna/photos/a.1032682620422...

www.archiseek.com/1905-laharna-hotel-larne-co-antrim/

I might be wrong, but I am guessing the photo is after 1897.

beachcomber australia you might be right!

Here is something: there is a scratched out title line above and to the left of the legible one, which means this is a Cabinet plate copy.
Here is the original Imperial plate image for comparison and maybe more detail -
L_IMP_1029 - catalogue.nli.ie/Record/vtls000329267

Warwickshire Herald - Thursday 25 August 1898

Holidays keepers who intend to spend their summer vacation in the Emerald Isle, can hardly do better than to select Holden's Laharna Hotel, Larne, as their headquarters. The establishment, which is under the efficient personal superintendence of Mr. A. W. Holden. is undoubtedly one of the best in Larne, and visitors will find their material requirements well catered for. In addition to commercial, coffee, dining and drawing rooms. there is a large concert and ball room, promenade roof, tennis court and all the adjuncts of a really first class English or Continental hotel.

and this is what you got for your 2 guineas

For two guineas the can have six days hotel accommodation, including three meals daily. a first-class railway journey to Portrush and Giant's Causeway. a total distance of 180 miles, a coach drive to Glenoe Waterfalls, as trip to Whitehead and Blackhead, a drive round the city of Belfast, with free admission to the principal places. and a fifty mile coach drive to Glenarm, Camlough and Glenariff Falls, along the finest coast in the British Isles. The impression of the visitor to the Laharna Hotel can hardly fail to be that the enterprising host supplies his guest with a marvellous two guineas worth.