walkerston

Walkerston's Albion Hotel was located where what is now O'Shea's sits. Barbara McDonald was the licensee from 1872 to 1901, having transferred the license from her husband. Barbara had endured much at that point, having lost both sons in infancy, and then her husband shortly afterward. The Albion, with its large function hall, was the pride of the district; Nellie Mitchell (later Dame Nellie Melba) provided an evening's entertainment there in 1881. This was reported as her first public concert, where her appearance was by chance, as the expected singer had fallen sick and Nellie was the substitute. The Albion burned down in 1964. Source: www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/mackay/walkerston-...

O'SHEAS HOTEL, formerly Albion 1 Bold Street Walkerston. Located on Northern bank of Bakers Creek at the intersection of Bold and Dutton Streets. The Albion Hotel was built in 1872. Norman Hiram Smith owned the Albion Hotel from 1947-1958. (JB) The hotel was destroyed by fire on Wednesday, April 15, 1964. The eight people in the hotel, including three children, escaped only minutes before it became a blazing inferno (DM. 26/2/2000). The present O'Sheas Hotel-Motel was built on site in 1964 by former Pioneer Shire Chairman John Young. Source: www.mackayhistory.org/research/hotels/hotels_l_to_z.html#...

A recent photograph of the front yard of Greenmount Homestead:

"Greenmount Homestead (2008)"    by P de G