hotel

When was Photographer: Robert French born? When did he pass? That should narrow it down.

CASSIDY PHOTOGRAPHY The Lawrence Collection (mostly taken by Robert French) dates between 1865 and 1914 - see above. We were hoping it might be possible, as usual with these photographs, to narrow the date down further. We have succeeded many times before.

From the linked pic, the Hotel dates from 1894. This one is well earlier, no extension to our left, but we never found a date for that work.

Often clothing will give a clue.

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

The original hotel, known as the Quilpie Hotel was built way back in 1920. It was a wood and iron structure with a bar, 16 bedrooms, 2 parlours and 2 dining rooms and as was discovered in 1926, it was not fire proof. When the hotel was rebuilt it was built with 2 storeys and from brick and concrete (a little harder to burn down). It was Quilpie’s first building to be built from anything other than wood. It became known as “the Brick” Hotel (aren’t we an imaginative bunch). The Brick Hotel closed as a pub in the early 1990’s, shortly after the Imperial was rebuilt. Today it has been renovated in the style of the 1920’s and is an accommodation house known as the “Heritage Inn”. Source: www.visitquilpieshire.com/news/unique-and-quirky-pubs-of-...