Inside vandalised abandoned Central Hotel, Lakes Creek Rd, Rockhampton

Vandals and squatters have made a horrifying mess inside the former Central Hotel in Rockhampton. The property passed in at an unpaid rates auction this week. SEE THE BEFORE AND AFTER PHOTOS.

Before and afters of the Central Hotel in Koongal.

On the outside of the once bustling but now abandoned Central Hotel, weeds are overgrown, graffiti marks the walls, jagged glass juts out from smashed windows and boards have been hammered to the doors.

Inside the hotel tells an ever darker story.

The last time the Lakes Creek Road, Koongal hotel on Rockhampton’s northside was reported to have been open was in 2016 and over the past seven years, vandals, squatters and maybe even bored youths have taken up residence and made a complete mess of the inside.

Piles and piles of rubbish cover the floor of the back area of the pub and cupboards and furniture have been pulled from the walls in the back kitchen.

In the front bar, plastic panels have been smashed and shards cover the ground, with more rubbish scattered throughout, televisions ripped off wall stands and holes litter the walls and ceilings.

Smashed windows on the outside of the Central Hotel.

Vandals and squatters have rifled through the abandoned Central Hotel at 385 Lakes Creek Road, Koongal.

Long-forgotten blackboards reflect a happier time, advertising “Karaoke with Kelvin” and pool competition details - but are marred by graffiti sprayed over the top.

More mess can be seen in the communal kitchen and the storeroom, with boxes and boxes of junk laid all over.

What was once a communal kitchen area at the Central Hotel.

Upstairs of the Central Hotel of the former boarding rooms.

Upstairs was once home to 10 boarding rooms and communal areas where travellers, staff and those sleeping off a rowdy night may have rested.

But now bed frames, mattresses and furniture are strewn throughout the rooms that are piled with eve more rubbish and junk.

Evidence of “new” products can be seen, with some cleaning products in the bathroom, Woolworths shopping bags and food packages pointing to more recent guests.

Sheets and pillows are haphazardly laid on mattresses, creating the sense people have been sleeping there.

The auction notice stuck to the wall of the outside of the Central Hotel.

The property went to auction on Wednesday (June 21) for unpaid rates owing to Rockhampton Regional Council.

Under the Local Government Regulation Act, council has the authority to sell commercial properties when rates are overdue for one year and for residential properties, three years.

Bids were thrown around up to $140,000, but the property was passed in as bidders didn’t meet the reserve.

It could not be revealed what the reserve was however under the Act, the reserve must be at least the market value or higher than the amount of the overdue rates or charges.

The market value must include a written report about the market value of the land from a registered valuer.

The outside of the abandoned Central Hotel pictured in June 2023.

According to a valuation in June 2022 accessed through property data, the land is valued at $197,500, and was valued for the same amount in June 2020.

The hotel itself sits on two titles on a corner allotment of 1600 sqm.

The property sold to the current owner in 2018 for $137,500 after being advertised for sale in 2017 for $185,000.

It had previously sold in 2016 for $200,000, after it was advertised two months beforehand for $285,000.

The Central Hotel on Lakes Creek Rd, Koongal, in 2016.

It sold in 2005 for $220,000 and in 2003 for $130,000.

In 1992 it sold for $595,000 and those owners had it for 20 years.

The Central Hotel in Koongal pictured in 2000.

The hotel has been on the site since as early as the 1940s, when it previously had verandas wrapping its front.

The hotel was around in the war years and popular with meatworkers from nearby abbatoirs.

The Central Hotel on Lakes Creek Rd in Koongal in 1949.

Under the Act, council can now offer the property for sale by negotiation or go to another auction.

Rockhampton Regional Council confirmed on Thursday morning the property had not sold at this stage.

“As the property at 385 Lakes Creek Road was passed in at auction, the registered bidders have the opportunity to enter into negotiations with Council to purchase the land by agreement,” it said.

“The price of the land will not be less than the reserve price set for the land at the auction.

“At this stage, negotiations have not resulted in the property being sold.”

The outside of the Central Hotel, Koongal.

The dilapidated building from the outside.

The outside of the abandoned Central Hotel pictured in June 2023.

Smashed windows and damaged doors on the outside.

The hotel hasn’t been open since 2016.

The former front entrance to the hotel.

Piles of rubbish in the former rear bar.

Destroyed furniture in the rear store room.

Damage in the rear kitchen.

The cold room behind the front bar.

Mess in the front bar.

 

 

 

 

Blackboard in the front bar.

Panels around the front bar have been destroyed.

Stairs to upstairs.

Stairs to the second storey where the 10 boarding rooms are.

 

Rooms upstairs.

Rooms upstairs.

Sign for tenants for upstairs rooms.

 

 

 

 

 

Squatters appear to have been sleeping in the rooms upstairs.