Disclaimer

Your use of this website and the content of this website is at your sole risk. You should be aware that any material and/or data downloaded or otherwise obtained through your use of this website is done at your own discretion and risk. The information contained on this website is provided by the Mackay Historical Society and Museum Inc. in good faith on an "as is" and "as available" basis. The information is believed to be accurate and current at the date the information was placed on this website. Neither Mackay Historical Society and Museum Inc. nor any of its members makes any representation or warranty as to the reliability, accuracy or completeness of the information contained on this website and none of them accept any responsibility arising in any way for errors in, or omissions from, the information contained on this website. Although every care has been taken in presenting this information some of it may be incorrect or incomplete, hence the creator of this website and/or any researcher or writer mentioned in it disclaim any liability in relation to the information, errors or omissions contained herein. Any person intending to use or rely on this information should first confirm it for themselves from other sources. Nevertheless any corrections or additional information will be most welcome.

ALBION HOTEL see O'Sheas Hotel

ALEXANDRA HOTEL

North side of Railway Station opposite location of Walkerston Railway Station, Walkerston.
Built 1869.

AMBASSADOR HOTEL, formerly Tattersalls Hotel

2 Sydney Street, Mackay.  Located on the western side of Sydney Street, between River and Victoria Streets, Mackay.
The original two storey timber structure was destroyed by fire on Sunday, 30 August 1936.
The Current building built in 1937, was closed as a hotel in the mid 1990's and was known as the Spotted Dick Bar. It continues to operate as a bar and grill.

ANDERGROVE TAVERN

64 Andergrove Road, Andergrove.
Built on site of old Grove Drive-In Theatre.

AUSTRAL HOTEL, formerly Stacey's, Defiance, Gympie (1), 

Located on the South-eastern corner of Peel and Victoria Streets on the site occupied by the present "Austral Hotel."

(as Austral)

AUSTRALIAN HOTEL, formerly Hodgson's, Digger Bills, Conway's

South-western corner of Victoria Street and Wood Street.
Original hotel was built by a Mr. Heem of Charters Towers.
Current building was built in 1940 by the Conway Family Estate.

(as North Australian)

BAKERS CREEK TAVERN previously Greyhound Hotel

Broadsound Road (Bruce Highway), Bakers Creek. 
The original Hotel appears to have been built around 1883 but was destroyed by fire on Monday, February 12, 1906. The replacement two storey hotel was demolished in early 1980's to be replaced by current modern building.

BAMBRICK'S HOTEL See Crown and Anchor Hotel (2)

BARNES' HOTEL See Cremorne Hotel

BARRY'S HOTEL See Biddle's Hotel

BELMORE HOTEL See McGuire's Hotel

BELMORE ARMS HOTEL See McGuire's Hotel

BIDDLE'S HOTEL, formerly Wharfie's, Barry's, Healy's, Crown and Anchor (1), Moffatt's, Cambridge Club

Eastern Victoria Street between Tennyson Street and Burns Street beside the old railway line where Jackson's Mowers are presently located (2004).

The first licence for the hotel was issued in 1894.(DM 26/2/2000)

Mrs Biddle took over the licence in 1922 and held it continuously until her death in December 1965. The lease was then held by her daughter Mrs. T. McMahon until 1967. The License was then held by Mick Biddle until 1970 when the Biddle family sold their interests.

The hotel has a claim to fame after an impromptu  visit was made there by Australian Prime Minister, Mr Gough Whitlam in 1974.

The top storey of the hotel was gutted by fire on Sunday, February 7, 1976. The licensee Mr. Warren Lane, his wife and two children lost all their possessions. (DM 26/2/2000)

BOBBIE BURNS HOTEL see Palace Hotel (1)

BOOMERANG HOTEL, formerly Caledonian, Railway(1) 

Eastern side Nebo Road near City Gates opposite the Lagoons.
The current building was built in the early 1960's by Basil and Bill Wright, Hugh Reilly and Fred Storey.
On site of previous Caledonian Hotel. The  Railway Hotel was allegedly on this site as well. (DM 29/7/2000)
Name was changed to Boomerang Motor Hotel on March 20, 1961. It was the first hotel in Mackay to offer motel type accommodation.

BROKEN RIVER HOTEL

Eungella

BUSHMAN'S HOTEL

Located up river from Foulden Crossing at Enmore on southern banks of Pioneer River near the site of the present homestead "Fryerne".  This site was upstream from the present Hospital Bridge. The ford across the river was much in use before the first bridge was built in the 1870's.

CALEDONIAN HOTEL (1) See Union Hotel

CALEDONIAN HOTEL (2)  See Boomerang Hotel

CALEN HOTEL previously Hotel Calen

McIntyre Street, Calen.

In the early 1930's, Mr. Tom Orchard came to Calen and took over the town's boarding house, then owned by Mr. and Mrs Pedersen.  When the Licensing Commission called for applications for a liquor license for Calen, they, together with three other interested parties, applied.  Subsequently, Mr. Tom Orchard obtained finance to erect a two-storey structure  adjoining his low building to provide more accomodation and to enhance his chances of obtaining the licence.  He eventually obtained his licence on January 11, 1937, together with a temporary bar permit to allow time to erect a suitable building.  This was accomplished by adding a section of similar size to the existing two-story structure.  He then moved into the still-standing hotel in 1938.

CAMBRIDGE CLUB HOTEL   see Biddles Hotel

CARLON'S HOTEL   previously General French

Sarina.

CARRIERS' REST HOTEL    previously Travellers' Rest Hotel

Sandy Creek on Nebo Road. Eton. (QHPI p. 122)

CATTLE CREEK HOTEL   see Royal Hotel (3)

CEDAR HOTEL   

Finch-Hatton.

The Application for a Victuallers license for the Cedar Hotel was first granted on 5 July 1911 to George Warburton (QSA1). The hotel was dismantled and rebuilt opposite old Mackay Railway Station in Boddington Street as a boarding house in 1940 (PPR. Feb 1993), which stood until demolished circa 1970's. 

CENTRAL HOTEL   see Grand Central

CLUB HOTEL   

Mirani.

Was located near the Current Police station on Eungella Road.
Destroyed by fire on Wednesday, May 3, 1922.(QSA4)

COMMERCIAL HOTEL (1)

Nebo.
Thankfull Percy Willmett later moved north to the Cape River diggings and then on to Townsville where he established himself in the printing business and was one time Mayor of Townsville.

COMMERCIAL HOTEL (2)   prev. London Tavern

Nebo

COMMERCIAL HOTEL (3)

Sydney Street, Mackay. exact location unknown.

COMMERCIAL HOTEL (4)

Mount Britton

COMMERCIAL HOTEL (5)

South-eastern corner of Shakespeare Street and Nebo Road.
Site presently occupied by Mackay Toyota Caryards.

The Hotel was built in 1884 by Evan Davies a Welshman who established himself as a building contractor. He also built the adjoining home Ballybrac, later the residence of Charles Frederick Bagley and his family. Ballybrac was acquired by the Grail, a catholic organisation for women and became a hostel for working girls. (DM 29/7/2000).  The Grail was recently the home of Centacare and was removed from the site in 2001.

The Commercial Hotel was demolished c. 1978 to make way for International Motors (now Mackay Toyota). The international Motors motor vehicle showroom and service facility were opened on Thursday, March 20, 1980. (DM 26/2/2000)

COMMERCIAL HOTEL (6) see Tandara Hotel

COMMONWEALTH HOTEL   see Glenella Hotel

COOK'S HOTEL See Wills' Hotel

CORONATION HOTEL See Gargett Hotel

COSMOPOLITAN HOTEL (1)

On Corner of Albert/Alfred Street? and Tennyson Street, Mackay.
Changed location in 1884.

COSMOPOLITAN HOTEL  (2)  See Molloy's Hotel

COUNTRY CLUB HOTEL See Leichhardt Hotel (3)

CREMORNE (GARDENS) HOTEL, see Cremorne Hotel

CREMORNE HOTEL, formerly Barnes, Rigby's

Eastern side of Barnes Creek Road, Cremorne, next to site presently occupied by a car yard on corner of Palm Street.
Original Hotel destroyed in 1918 Cyclone.
Another Hotel was rebuilt but later destroyed in flood of 1958.
Licence transferred to Kooyong Hotel.

CRITERION HOTEL (1)   See Union Hotel

CRITERION HOTEL (2) formerly Queen's(1), Rickett's, Shiel's

On South-eastern corner of Victoria and Sydney Streets, Mackay.
On current site of ANZ Bank. 
Original Hotel burnt down on September 29, 1872.  A new building built by a Mr. McKenzie of Bowen and renamed the "Criterion Hotel."  The building was sold and became the "Union Bank of Australia".

CRITERION HOTEL (3)

Finch Hatton.        

Still currently trading as the Criterion Hotel.

CRONIN'S HOTEL See Mirani Hotel

CROWN HOTEL See Crown and Anchor Hotel (2)

CROWN and ANCHOR HOTEL (1) see Biddle's Hotel 

CROWN and ANCHOR HOTEL (2), formerly Crown, Bambrick's, Crown and Anchor, Crown, Naval Brigade, Glass' Family, Chidgey's, Excelsior.

27 River Street between Brisbane Street and Carlyle Street.  The original hotel was built by Grose Henry Chidgey and adjoined his butchery business.  The original hotel was destroyed by fire on Tuesday, May 3, 1932.  The current building was built shortly after.  The Crown and Anchor Hotel ceased trading on Saturday, August 28, 2004 and is due to be be demolished by the end of 2004 to make way for high rise units.  This hotel was the last of the River Street Hotels to cease trading and so closed a chapter in Mackay History.

DEFIANCE HOTEL    See Austral Hotel

DIGGERS' ARMS HOTEL

Stevenson Street, Mount Britton (LF 21/2/2004)

DUKE HOTEL See Duke of Edinburgh Hotel

DUKE OF EDINBURGH, also known as the Duke

3 Dutton Street, Walkerston.
Built 1882.  The hotel was extensively refurbished in 1950's?. 
Owned by the family of Norman Hiram Smith from 1941-1981. (JB)

EIMEO HOTEL    See Pacific Hotel

ELPHINSTONE HOTEL

Lake Elphinstone.    (QHPI p. 191)

EMPRESS of INDIA HOTEL See Taylor's Hotel

ETON HOTEL (1)

Eton. Exact location unknown

ETON HOTEL (2) prev. Hotel Eton, Great Northern Hotel, Northern Hotel

Peak Downs Highway, Eton.
Original hotel built by William Bagley on the banks of Sandy Creek.
Owned by Elizabeth Howells from 1932-1947. (JB)

EUNGELLA HOTEL

Eungella

EUNGELLA CHALET

Eungella.
Built in 1932 by Max Owens and Joe Gralow for Dr. Chenoweth as a health Resort.  Later converted to a licensed hotel and is still operating.

EXCELSIOR HOTEL (1)

Nebo.

EXCELSIOR HOTEL (2) See Crown and Anchor Hotel (2)

EXCELSIOR HOTEL (3)

Eungella Road, Netherdale (Eungella Range).

Built in 1911. It was a popular site for a hotel as the Railway line to Netherdale was completed a few months earlier on 31 July 1911.  A Soft Drink factory was run in conjunction with the hotel.  The licensees son Billy Eyles was killed there in an explosion.  A small butchery and grocery store were attached to the hotel and run in conjunction with the hotel. (PPR May 1989). The hotel was destroyed by fire on Tuesday, July 31, 1962 along with the neighbouring shop and dance hall.  The fire started about 1.10pm in either the shop or the dance hall and was carried across the 15 foot passageway between the buildings by a strong draught.  It caught on the weatherboard outside wall of the hotel and quickly spread to the roof.  The entire roof was soon ablaze and the top storey was burnt out by 2.15pm.  By 3pm, the buildings were completely burnt to the ground.  All the stock and furniture from the buildings was saved by volunteers. (PPR July 2002)

EXCHANGE HOTEL

Eungella.

FAMILY (GLASS') HOTEL see Crown and Anchor Hotel (2)

FARLEIGH HOTEL

Original hotel was located on Bruce Highway, Farleigh on a site occupied now by a fertiliser depot. This hotel was severely damaged in the 1918 Mackay Cyclone.  The hotel was quite severely damaged by the cyclone, losing it's roof and many doors and windows. (DM 24/2/1981).
The hotel was rebuilt on a site in Armstrong Street  adjacent to the Farleigh Mill. 
The Farleigh hotel was demolished in the early 1980's and the licence was transferred by the Refalo family to the Farview Tavern.

FARVIEW TAVERN

Farleigh.
Opened on 21 February 1981. The license was transferred from the "Farleigh Hotel".

FAY'S HOTEL See Metropolitan Hotel

FEDERAL HOTEL See Hotel Mackay(3)

FELTON'S HOTEL See Mirani Hotel

FLORENCE HOTEL

Rocky Waterholes / Nebo Road, Bakers Creek. (this may have been located just past Walkerston on the road to Nebo)  (QHPI p.8)   

FORT COOPER HOTEL See Nebo Hotel

GARGETT HOTEL     formerly Pioneer Valley, Coronation  

Gargett Street, Gargett.
Built in 1910 the same year as the coronation of King George V.
Was originally a two storey timber hotel. The second floor was demolished during renovations to the hotel in 1987.  The top floor included eight bedrooms, bathrooms, a large lounge area and a wide verandah.

GENERAL FRENCH HOTEL   See Carlon's Hotel

GENERAL GORDON HOTEL

Homebush-Rosella Road, Homebush.
Built 1886 possibly by Charles Porter.  It was originally a one storey building and was rumoured to have been built from timber off a loaded bullock wagon which became bogged down along the road between Rosella and Eton. The Hotel was named after the British General Charles George Gordon (1833-1885). Gordon was known as "Gordon of Khartoum" after defending the city in Sudan against troops led by Muslim leader Muhammad Ahmad. Gordon held the city for 317 days, but was killed two days before a British relief column came within sight of the city.  The hotel was rebuilt after damage sustained from the 1918 cyclone and a second storey was added.  During the Second World War, the hotel was a popular spot with American servicemen on leave in Mackay.

GEORGE HOTEL See Glenella Hotel

GLASS'S FAMILY HOTEL See Crown and Anchor Hotel (2)

GLENELLA HOTEL, formerly George, Romano's, Jackson's, Commonwealth, Separation, Hamilton, Hill End Arms

Located at Hill End (Glenella). 

Located on Corner of Davey Street and Hill End Road, now a vacant block.  It was named the Separation Hotel in support of the North Queensland Separation League which was strong locally at the time.  The hotel  was allegedly rebuilt in 1919 after being largely destroyed in the 1918 Cyclone.  It was allegedly originally located about 100 metres north up the road. The Glenella hall was built on the eastern side of the hotel in 1938 and still exists to this day. (DM 13/1/1993) The Glenella  hotel was demolished c. 1980 and the License was transferred to Mount Pleasant Tavern.

GOLDEN FLEECE HOTEL See Post Office (1) 

GOLDEN GECKO HOTEL prev. Ryan's Tavern, Ryan's Hotel, Pearson's Hotel

Eastern side of Sydney Street between Alfred and Shakespeare Streets.

The original building was built around 1908 apparently for Mr. and Mrs. Jim Ryan.  The Ryan's owned the pub until their retirement after 40 years in the hotel business.  Ross and Catherine Ryan bought the hotel in 1962 and continued the business until the old building was demolished in 1977. The modern building was built on site in 1979. (DM 22/3/1990)

GRAND HOTEL

North-eastern corner of Brisbane Street and Victoria Street, site is where Corporate Express Stationary is located (2004).

Built in 1907 it was described as one of the finest hotels in North Queensland.  It was built under the supervision of Richard Neill a resident of Mackay for 40 years at the time and described as an experienced hotel-keeper.  The building consisted of 25 bedrooms measuring in size from 12 ft. by 12 ft. and 10ft. by 12 ft. It also had four comfortable sitting and writing rooms, a fine dining room of 30 ft by 30 ft.  The 30 ft. by 16ft. lounge room was at street level. Ladies' and gentlemen's lavatories and bathrooms of first class type are on the bedroom floors and also on the ground floor.  The bar was located away from the residential portion of the hotel as was the well-fitted billiard room.  A staircase lead to the great parapetted roof which with its level surface 30 feet wide by 210 feet long overlooked the town and district and gave splendid views taking in the whole countryside from Flat Top Island to Mount Dalrymple. (QCL p. 20)

Immediately after the 1918 cyclone a 16 year old Jack Vidulich signalled the lighthouse keeper on Flat Top Island with the first communications from a destroyed township from the rooftop of the Grand.  

It was used and became well known by American servicemen during the Second World War as an American Red Cross Service Club for about two years. 

The hotel was destroyed by fire on October 16, 1950. The fire began on the ground floor shortly after 2.00 am.  The fire was fanned by a strong south-easterly wind and the fire soon engulfed the building.  The severity of the fire was such that neighbouring business within 200 metres of the fire had to hose down their buildings to prevent the fire spreading.   The fire was one of the largest ever seen in Mackay  and a crowd of about 2000 witnessed the fire that could be seen as far away as Walkerston.  (DM 1/4/1996).

A temporary bar known as the "cow shed" allegedly operated on the site for a short while afterwards.  The site was then vacant for a number of years until a service station was built on the site and in recent years a stationery business was established on the site.

GRAND CENTRAL HOTEL   also known as CENTRAL

Central Street, Sarina.

This hotel was located on Broad Street.  It was destroyed by fire on Sunday, May 27, 1934.  It was rebuilt.

GREAT NORTHERN HOTEL   See Eton Hotel

GREYHOUND HOTEL See Bakers Creek Tavern

GYMPIE HOTEL (1) See Austral Hotel

GYMPIE HOTEL (2)

Mount Britton (LF 21/2/2004)

HAMILTON HOTEL See Glenella Hotel

HAMILTON'S HOTEL See Wills' Hotel

HEALY'S HOTEL See Biddle's Hotel

HIBERNIAN HOTEL  

This Hotel was allegedly located adjacent to the old Caledonian Hotel on Nebo Road, where the Boomerang Hotel now stands. (DM 15/1/1947)

HILL END ARMS HOTEL See Glenella Hotel

HODGSON'S HOTEL  See Australian Hotel

HORSE AND JOCKEY HOTEL

Was most likely located on corner of Cowleys Road and Peak Downs Highway, Racecourse opposite Selwyn House(2002).

HOTEL MACKAY, formerly Federal Hotel

179 Victoria Street on the corner of Wellington Street.

The original license was granted to Mary Sharpley on 5 July 1911(QSA5). The hotel was destroyed by fire on Wednesday, September 28, 1938 and was rebuilt by Curley and Florence Poole as the Hotel Mackay. In 1942 the Americans took it over as an Officer's Mess and Quarters and the Pooles had a temporary bar a few doors down Victoria Street.

After the Second World War the Pooles again took over. The hotel was then leased by their daughter and son-in-law, Bill and Iris Knobel. In 1966, Tom and Dulcie Knobel leased the hotel and from 1968 to 1976 it was leased by their daughter and son-in-law Gib and Marie Shanks. When the Shanks' lease expired , Mrs Iris Knobel once again took over the hotel. However she passed away in Easter that year. The lease was later taken over by the Merrick family.

HOTEL MANUEL  see Post Office (1)

HOUSTON'S HOTEL see Palace Hotel(1)

IMPERIAL HOTEL

Southern side of Victoria Street between Sydney and Wood Streets. Now known as Mackay Townhouse. Original timber hotel was replaced by current building in the late 1930's. Building was also known as the "Commercial Travellers of Australia House"
Daniel Craine originally had a bakery on this site in the late 1800's. 
Building purchased by Mackay Permanent Building Society and interior demolished in 2004. Facade being kept for new building.

JACKSON'S HOTEL  See Glenella Hotel

JENSEN'S HOTEL See Prince of Wales Hotel

KINGSBOROUGH HOTEL

Located on the Peak Downs Highway between Eton and Walkerston. About 1 km on the Walkerston side of Sawn Creek on property currently owned by a Mrs. Neilsen.
The hotel was built for William Northey and was built to cater for the thirst of meat-workers from the "Savannah Meat Works" which was located on the old Victoria Sugar Mill site on Victoria Plains - currently Ray Blackburn's cane farm.
Apparently demolished c. 1910 and two houses were built from the timbers, one large house still used at Mason's farm at Aberdeen (on Hanna's Road, North Eton)  and a smaller house built at North Eton.

KOOYONG HOTEL & MOTOR INN   also known as Kooyong Motor Hotel.

Corner of Harbour Road and Evans Avenue, North Mackay.
Built before 1962. Original licence held by Cremorne Hotel.   

KOUMALA HOTEL

Bruce Highway, Koumala.

The Koumala Hotel was under construction when the Second World War broke out in 1939. It was thought to have been completed around 1940. The hotel was operated by Mr. & Mrs. P. Sands for quite a few years and was taken over by Mr. & Mrs. M. Sutton. (HRKD p. 26)

KUTTABUL HOTEL  formerly Ossa Hotel

Bruce Highway, Hampden (Kuttabul).

Still trading as the Kuttabul Hotel.

  [HOME] | | [HOTELS L-Z]

If you can supply any further information or photographs on the above please contact us by EMAIL. 
Glen Hall

© Glen Hall 2001-2017.
last updated 19 July, 2017 .
Site maintained by Glen Hall.