Works to demolish Rockhampton’s Ambassador Motel underway

Works to demolish Rockhampton’s Ambassador Motel are underway, with one structure barely left standing at the site which fell victim to two alleged arson attacks earlier this year. VIDEO, PHOTOS.

Works to demolish Rockhampton’s Ambassador Motel are underway, with one structure barely left standing at the site which fell victim to two alleged arson attacks earlier this year.

Signage for southeast Queensland based company Demex, who were also involved in the demolition of the Leichhardt Hotel, could be seen on the temporary fencing surrounding the motel on Yaamba Rd.

Works to demolish Rockhampton's Ambassador Motel are underway. Picture: Aden Stokes

Workers on Thursday could be seen going in and out of the last standing structure on the site.

An excavator could also be seen moving rubble into a pile.

Works to demolish Rockhampton's Ambassador Motel are underway. Picture: Aden Stokes

The Ambassador Motel was built in the late 1960s and operated for a number of years.

The motel was pegged for demolition in December when plans were lodged with Rockhampton Regional Council.

The plans were lodged by SpinksCo Commercial, a privately owned Brisbane-based development and investment company founded in 2009, which has links to Rugby League legend Darren Lockyer.

Works to demolish Rockhampton's Ambassador Motel are underway. Picture: Aden Stokes

The demolished motel will make way for a brand new Sydney Tools store.

Sydney Tools was formed in 2001 and has stores in both Gladstone and Mackay.

According to the plans for the new store, the retail showroom building will be constructed along the southern boundary of the site, to be 8.5m high with a 1800 sqm gross floor area, and access would be from both streets, with a 45-space car park.

Ambassador Motel in an abandoned and overgrown state in late December 2023.

A sale of the motel was finalised in November 2023 for $1.44 million to brothers Elvis and Jason Bey, who co-own Sydney Tools.

In February, the vacant motel fell victim to alleged arson after fires broke out two nights in a row in February.

Demex did not wish to comment on the project.

Sydney Tools was contacted for comment.