Mystery of ‘closed’ Plaza Hotel once lively with guests

YOU might find silver chairs bobbing in the Rockhampton Plaza Hotel pool instead of heads.

There are “no vacancy” signs stuck to the entrance of the Gladstone Road hotel. Picture: Chris Ison

YOU might find silver chairs bobbing in the Rockhampton Plaza Hotel pool instead of heads.

Forget booking a room at the 3.5 star accommodation venue over the phone, as well, because you'll be diverted straight to call waiting music.

There are "no vacancy" signs stuck to the entrance of the Gladstone Road hotel.

On the other side of the glass door lies bundles of mail, seemingly untouched for days.

What has happened to the popular Rockhampton dining place remains a mystery. The hotel has reportedly been closed for more than a week.

Capricorn Enterprise chief executive Mary Carroll yesterday said she and her staff members were aware some months ago that the managers were moving "south" to be with family.

"However, we made the assumption that (the managers) sold the management rights," Ms Carroll said.

"The issue surrounding this closure is now squarely in the hands of the owners.

"It seems a very strange situation."

The Morning Bulletin was yesterday and Monday unable to contact the owners, Chang Holdings, based in Brisbane.

Ms Carroll said it was in the best interests of Rockhampton visitors to urgently find out what was going on because it had been a popular spot.

"We need to ensure there are no disruptions... the managers left in good faith," Ms Carroll said.

hotel's Dodgy air-conditioning

In 2012 hotel lessees Jim and Linda Bentley found themselves in a race against time to install new air-conditioning units to save a $250,000 contract with the Singapore Air Force.

Mr and Mrs Bentley appeared in the Brisbane Supreme Court as applicants requesting a resolution to a dispute they had with Chang Holdings, the owners of the hotel, over an alleged $157,073 in upgrades needed to replace the hotel's rundown air-conditioning system in 2008.

Originally published as Mystery of ‘closed’ Plaza Hotel once lively with guests