Colourful History for pub

Believe it or not, this ramshackle shed became one of the most beloved nightspots in Gympie. But which one?

PUBLIC HOUSE: The Royal Hotel, on the corner of Mary and Monkland Sts in the 1880's. Picture: Contributed

FOR around 140 years, the corner of Mary and Monkland Sts in downtown Gympie has been a hub of food, beverages and entertainment.

The Royal Hotel was known as the Exchange Hotel and Varieties Theatre when built in 1868.

The then newly established local paper, The Gympie Times, ran an advertisement that year extolling the virtues of the venue where “every comfort and delight” could be found.

Musical companies and agents found large and enthusiastic audiences.

In the Gympie Mining Handbook, published in 1887, A Leek wrote the Royal’s theatre and dancing room, built behind the hotel, “was crowded with audiences pretty well every evening”.

“If there were any entertainers, the audience sat and drank and smoked in calm enjoyment, but the evenings were generally passed in the festive dance... the spirited proprietors engaged an extra number of waitresses who could on occasion dance with the diggers as long as the libations consumed were of respectable value,” the author wrote.

“There was a fiddle and piano for the band, and there was a bar also, which almost goes without saying.”

Those early glory days came to an end in 1875 after a cyclone destroyed part of the theatre and floods submerged most of the town.

The licence was cancelled, but in 1882 architect Hugo Durietz designed a two-storey timber building for the central spot.

It was officially opened as the Varieties Hotel and Theatre, and once again became the place that drew crowds looking for light entertainment.

The hotel became the Royal Hotel in 1885, then in 1910 it was called the Theatre Royal.

Tragedy struck again in 1935, when the building was razed to the ground.

The Gympie Times reported the disaster: “There was removed from Gympie a building which had been the scene of many social and political events, which had its historic interest and for the few remaining pioneers, its cherished associations.”

The hotel was missed but not for long.

After Bulimba Brewery purchased the site in 1938, the newly-built Royal Hotel, with an elegant art deco facade, opened its doors to eager patrons.

It is the iconic building which stands today.

It has been inundated with flood water countless times over the years, but each time the muddy waters have subsided, the doors have opened to customers.

It closed for two years then reopened in 2007, having undergone a $1-million facelift which restored the hotel to its former glory.

Venue Manager Stacey Lowe has fond memories of the Royal Hotel. Picture: Contributed

The current Royal Hotel manager Stacey Lowe said after all these years, it still followed the tradition of providing great entertainment.

“The Royal Hotel is a piece of history,” Ms Lowe said.

“It’s an historical building and a cornerstone of the Mary St landscape.”

Ms Lowe said the focus of the hotel was to serve great food and offer first-class entertainment.

She wants people to have the same great experience she had herself as a hotel patron.

“There are a lot of memories here for me.

“It was a place where we all came to drink in our younger days.

“Everybody’s got a memory of the Royal.”

The Gympie Times

May 26, 1894

THIS Hotel is conducted on first-class principles, and only the best Wines and Spirits brands are kept in stock.

Beer sold at 3d. per half, and 6d. per pint.

The Dining and Sitting Rooms are well furnished, as also are the bedrooms.

The Cuisines Department is under the immediate superintendence of the proprietress, and the general comfort of all persons patronising the Royal is her special study.

M. DUCKWORTH, PROPRIETRESS

The Gympie Times

December 14, 1934

FIRE AT ROYAL HOTEL

THE timely discovery of a fire on the second floor of the Royal Hotel early yesterday and prompt action in extinguishing the blaze probably saved the hotel and adjoining premises from destruction.

The licensee (Mr. J. Guilfoyle) was quickly roused, but he had some anxious moments when he was unable to find the key of the telephone.

In the meantime, three boarders attacked the flames in the bathroom with buckets and jugs of water, and also secured a hose from downstairs.

The brigade was telephoned, but the fire was extinguished by the boarders before the brigade arrived.

The Gympie Times

August 3, 1939

NEW ROYAL HOTEL

THE new Royal Hotel, on the corner of Mary and Monkland Streets, will be formally opened for business to-day.

Its appearance gives distinction to the corner and inside every effort has been made to meet the comfort of patrons.

The result is a building which the licensee (Mr. J. Miller) is justly proud to operate. Last year, it was reported that the then proposed hotel was estimated to cost £15,000.Construction began in November 1938.

Four garages at the rear of the old hotel were used as a temporary bar while the main building work proceeded.

The new hotel is brick and two floors, with cantilever awnings and tiled frontages.