Maryborough’s Customs House Hotel under renovation

One of the oldest pubs in Queensland is getting a much-needed makeover after being bought by a brave investor right when it was about to deteriorate to the point of no return.

Plumber Ross “Pom” Povey eyed the renewed roofline of the Customs House Hotel above the scaffolding with a wry grin.

“They used to say they built things well in the old days,” he said.

“I beg to differ. They used a lot of wood but that was about it.”

Mr Povey this week is completing the rebuilding of the roof of the heritage hotel in Wharf Street, one of the biggest challenges he has conquered.

“When I first looked at it I thought ‘How the heck are we going to fix this?’ We virtually had to rebuild to whole place.”

Months later, after 7000 screws, 300 battens and long days working on a 34-degree pitch, Mr Povey says he is starting to feel a sense of satisfaction at helping bring the forlorn hotel back to life.

“It’s good to know it has been strengthened properly.

“The builders can go inside now and do their stuff knowing it’s not going to leak or be unstable.”

The Customs House Hotel was bought late last year by IJS Property Group, which has a history of restoring heritage buildings in southeast Queensland.

Built in 1886, the Customs House was Maryborough’s oldest hotel still standing – but only just, teetering perilously toward the point of no return as potential restorers shook their heads and walked away.

Its new owner, Deb Simon, had felt a heart tug whenever she looked at the sagging building, yearning to see it returned to its graceful grandeur.

That is now happening.

She hopes to have a cafe and bar open in about two months.

Plans are in hand for the remainder of the building.

The company has also been restoring the iconic Royal Hotel in Kent Street – a project that has encountered more delays than expected.

Real estate agent Matt Mercer on the famous grand stairs before the Royal Hotel renovations started.

Most hold-ups stem from supply and labour shortages caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Povey Plumbing and Drainage crews have also been working on the complex challenges of restoring the Royal.

The bar area is expected to be open later this year and, like the Customs House, renovations will continue in other accommodation and reception areas.