Demolition plans for tired Rockhampton Leichhardt Hotel

Time is running out for guests and staff at a major Rockhampton CBD venue after its national owners made a tough decision on its future. READ THE FULL DETAILS HERE.

The Leichhardt Hotel will close on Easter Monday as the building has fallen into disrepair.

A D-Day notice has been handed down for Rockhampton’s historic Leichhardt Hotel on Bolsover Street.

The venue, managed by major national hotel chain Australian Venue Co (AVC), is set to be demolished after Easter as the costs for renovations on the dilapidated venue have far outweighed that of a new building.

The demolition will include the seven-storey hotel and the units out the back.

Travel Associates also leases an office space on the ground level but it is not known what the business’ plans are at this stage.

The functions levels, one level of accommodation and the gaming room were closed last month due to “water damage”.

The last renovations at the building were believed to be 20 years ago.

The building has fallen into some disrepair, with reports of mould and negative reviews of the accommodation.

One of the bar areas at the Leichhardt Hotel.

“The Leichhardt Hotel had previously been identified as a site for a potential renovation,” AVC state manager Queensland Scott Brydson.

“The current issue with water damage has given Australian Venue Co the opportunity to fast track the project.

“We see huge potential in the Rockhampton market and will be demolishing the current building to make way for a complete rebuild.”

The sign on the door to the gaming room from the Bolsover Street carpark at the Leichhardt Hotel.

The 21 staff at the hotel were all given the news in a meeting on Monday (March 22) and were offered relocations to the Club Hotel in Gladstone or redundancy.

The hotel is currently booked out for Rockynats and the accommodation and bars will remain open until then.

The entire venue is expected to close permanently on Easter Monday.

AVC has plans to build a new property however this has not been finalised at this stage.

“We are still in the early stages of planning and look forward to sharing more information with the local community in coming months,” Mr Brydson said.

“The venue will close from 18 April 2022 and we expect the construction works to take approximately 12 months.”

Photos of rooms at the Leichhardt Hotel. The venue has 60 four-star accommodation rooms.

The kitchen had its last day of service on February 21 and has now closed.

The Leichhardt Hotel previously had the contract for meals to inmates at the Rockhampton Watchhouse across the road.

It is understood a Rockhampton catering company has been put in place as a stop gap measure at the Watchhouse until the service can be formally advertised for tender.

Construction of the Leichhardt Hotel in the 70s.

The venue was built in the 70s by JM Kelly for Les and Emily Duthie, who named it Duthie’s Leichhardt Hotel.

The property was purchased by Hotel Property Investments Limited in 2004 for $3.52 million.

The company owns 56 hotel properties across Australia.

The venue was built in the 70s and boasts seven floors with two floors of function facilities and 60 four-star hotel rooms.