Fire destroys pub

Do you remember when the Commercial hotel had risque ladies painted on the exterior? No? Then read on...

BACK IN THE DAY: The Commercial Hotel, circa 1900s. Picture: Contributed

THE Commercial Hotel had as many changes to its facade in its long life as Mary St itself.

The year following the discovery of gold in Gympie, Henry Farley built the original Mining Exchange and Commercial Hotel in 1868, stretching across what is now Channon St.

The large hotel had four sitting rooms, 16 bedrooms and a billiard room containing two tables.

Behind it were livery stables where horses were available for hire, and down the hill in what is now Duke St, Farley established a brewery.

The Mining Exchange Hotel buildings were demolished in 1871, to make way for Channon St.

They were replaced with a new building on the corner of Mary and Channon Sts, changing names in 1873 to the Commercial Hotel.

Well-known Gympie architect Hugo Du Rietz made additions to the hotel in 1881, and as well as bedrooms, a bar and dining room, the hotel housed the Miner’s Free Stock Exchange.

The hotel burnt to the ground in a fire on May 25, 1890.

It was believed to have been started in the cellar by a candle, which an employee used down there in the early hours of the morning.

Licensee Daniel Hendry, despondent at the loss of his property, committed suicide by taking poison just three months later.

Daniel Hendry’s widow built the present two-storey brick hotel in 1892, designed by Brisbane architect Richard Gailey.

The hotel was described as “the largest and most convenient of any in the district and specially suited to commercial travellers with its large samples rooms, excellent cuisine, good stabling and civil and attentive grooms”.

A tornado swept through Gympie on September 22, 1932, damaging the hotel.

“High above the town could be seen what appeared to be sheets of paper, but actually proved to be roofing iron torn from buildings in the path of the wind,” one eyewitness said.

After it was repaired, the hotel continued to be a hub of commercial activity, drawing in locals and travellers.

It gained some notoriety in the 1980s, when the owner had several scantily-clad women painted on the building walls.

Considered a disgrace by many, the women were not covered up until 2007, when the building was restored to its 1890’s glory.

The building is now home to The Decks on Mary restaurant and Gympie Regional Real Estate offices.

BREWERIES

With so many hotels in early Gympie, it is not surprising the town was also home to breweries.

James Phillips operated the Ovens Brewery at One Mile Rd in 1868, while at Commissioner’s Hill in Duke St, Farley’s had livery stables fronting Reef St and a hotel.

Also in Reef St was the Brewery Tap Hotel, kept by Frederick Finselbach, where in a primitive building, he dispensed his own home-brew.

IT WAS THE TOM AND GERI SHOW IN THE 1960’S

FROM 1960-1984 the Commercial Hotel was home of the Tom and Geri Show, where publicans Tom and Geri (Geraldine) Farrelly poured the beers and served the meals.

Mrs Farrelly remembers an intense but enjoyable era where the hotel was a hub of activity for travelling salesmen and other hotel guests and where their seven children were raised.

The salesmen showed their wares downstairs in the samples room, where shopkeepers would inspect goods and place orders.

“The travellers would arrive on the train with wicker baskets holding samples for display,” Mrs Farrelly remembers.

“We always had the dining room full and the upstairs full, because we were close to the forestry office, the lands office, Telecom and were off the highway.”

While the position of the pub aided productivity, it was also in view of the police station across the road.

Mrs Farrelly said during trading restrictions in the 1960s, it was not uncommon for a police officer to phone and say, “Tom, you’ve still got your lights on”.

Mrs Farrelly remembers it as a popular time.

“It was before all the electrical gear and TV took over –come 5 o’clock we had a good supply of customers,” Mrs Farrelly said.

Customers took many shapes and forms and came with many a story.

One memorable time, a very full Gympie man tried to enter the pub but was refused.

He went around to the next door and was refused again and when he was refused at the pub’s third door, said, “Do you own all the pubs in town?”

The 10th member of the Farrelly family, Boozer Boxer, was as much a part of the hotel as some of the more lively guests.

Boozer would greet customers parked outside the hotel with a booming woof through their car window, but only if they were driving a Mini Minor.

Boozer was also the source of phone calls from agitated shopkeepers.

The large boxer once “guarded” the front door of a Mary St fish and chip shop, blocking customers from entering on a Friday evening, which should have been, and usually was, the busiest trading night.

Perhaps the most humorous time was when Boozer stole police evidence – a chain of sausages.

Gympie Times

Tuesday, May 27 – 1890

COMMERCIAL HOTEL

ONE of the most disastrous fires experienced in Gympie occurred at about 3.15am Sunday and resulted in the total destruction of the block of buildings including the Commercial Hotel (occupied by Mrs Compigne), the Miners Free Stock Exchange and the offices of which Messrs. S Barter, F R Ravenhill (auctioneers) and L J Lynch (sharebroker and commission agent).

The fire was discovered by Charlie Tow Chew and James Dallas, originating in the cellar.

Dallas had gone to bed at about 11.30pm and was awakened by smoke coming into his room.

There were no boarders in the house and once it was ascertained all the servants who had occupied other portions of the building were in safety, everyone’s attention was given to the saving of property.

However, by then, the whole place was in flames and burning.

Indeed, so rapidly did the fire spread that within about three quarters of an hour; all the buildings and their contents may be said to have been reduced to a heap of burning debris.

Gympie Times

April 1892

THE gap at the corner of Mary and Channon Streets, caused by the destruction of the Commercial Hotel nearly two years ago, is to be filled up, tenders being called for the construction of a three-storey hotel.

As the building is to be constructed of brick and will cover a large area of ground, it will prove an addition to the architecture of the town.

The Gympie Times, 1971

GYMPIEITES will have a rare opportunity to see the Crown Jewels free of charge.

The replica will be on display under bullet-proof glass in a mobile unit in the Commercial Hotel’s backyard.

The New Zealand Government, as part of its tourist promotion programme, has sent them on tour.

Gympie was not originally on the itinerary but the men accompanying the display decided to show them when they saw the size of the city.

They had been told that Gympie was “just a little village”.

COMMERCIAL HOTEL ADVERTISEMENT

Farley’s Mining Exchange and Commercial Hotel, Nashville

The Proprietor begs to inform the Public that the accommodations are now complete.

Sleeping apartments, dining, commercial, reading and coffee rooms are now open.

Breakfast from 8 to 10, Luncheon 1pm and Dinner 6pm.

First class table, wines and spirits of the choicest brands.

Bass’s India Pale Ale on Draught.

All the leading Journals of Queensland, Victoria, New South Wales and New Zealand Gold Fields.

Cobb’s Coach leaves the door every morning at 6 o’clock.

Passengers may rely upon being called – night porter kept.

Charges moderate.

A reduction made to weekly boarders.

- Henry Farley, Proprietor

(Late of Ballarat Victoria and Dunedin New Zealand)

N.B. James Farley will hold regular Sales of Mining Stock by Auction, every Monday and Saturday afternoons at 3 o’clock sharp, commencing Saturday the 26th instant.

All particulars of Shares must be sent in before the day of sale.

No charge unless Sales effected.

- James Farley, Auctioneer.