Savoy Hotel building set to be demolished

The historical building in the Rockhampton CBD has been closed since 2003 when it was found it didn’t meet fire safety standards. Find out what is planned now.

With its funky orange, yellow and blue walls on the inside and black exterior, the former Savoy Hotel on the corner of William and Alma Streets in Rockhampton’s CBD, will soon be a pile of rubble as it is scheduled for demolition.

A great pub back in its heyday, the building has fallen into a state of disrepair over the past decade and has been subject to vandals and squatters.

The Savoy around 2013.

The hotel was shut in 2003 when the Liquor Licensing Board, Queensland Police and Queensland Fire and Emergency Services inspected the building and ordered it be immediately closed due to “critical” fire safety failures.

The shop spaces on the ground floor.

The double-storey building has shop space on the ground level along with the pub area and a commercial kitchen space.

Upstairs there are 17 individual rooms, a lounge room, two-bedroom manager’s residence and bathroom areas.

The Savoy Hotel in 2007, just a few years after it was closed.

The building last sold in 2016 for $382,500 to Rockhampton businessman Wayne Daniels.

The shop space was rented for some time to a western clothing store however nothing ever happened at the hotel.

The Morning Bulletin understands demolition of the site will begin in early October and it is set to take two weeks.
Ergon Energy has already been to the site to disconnect the power.

The Savoy Hotel in 2007 before the glass was boarded up.

MEMORIES OF THE SAVOY

Nearby businessman Rod Green from Green Brothers has had his shop across from old hotel for more than 40 years.

He recalled the many publicans over the years, including notoriously shady businessman John Hannay.

Mr Hannay was known for not paying artists and entertainers and in 1972, when he was the manager of Whiskey Au Go Go, he faced allegations of theft and fraud.

He was sacked from the Whiskey and shortly afterwards was badly beaten in an alleyway.

Months after the beating, the Whiskey was set on fire and 15 innocent people were killed.

At the time it was Australia’s worst mass murder.

There has always been speculation Hannay was behind the fire, despite two criminals being charged and jailed for life.

Hannay died in 2019 taking his secrets to the grave.

“In the early days it was called the Astoria Hotel, in the 70s John Hannay had a liquor barn,” Mr Green said.

“I believe it was the first drive-through liquor in Rockhampton …. It was very successful.”

It then changed to the Oriental Hotel and was later sold to Gordon and Graham Pool.

“They did it up as the railway station look on the outside and nightclub … they were very successful and it was great,” Mr Green said.

Savoy Hotel in 2007, on the corner of William and Alma Streets.

A succession of owners came through after that and it changed to the Harmony Hotel.

“In its day it was great … currently it doesn’t look the best,” Mr Green said.

“What you saw was a lot of publicans … some would use different ways of getting people in there.

“It was quite popular in its day … driving laws have stopped those sorts of things.”

Back in the 70s and 80s, the William Street area was full of hotels.

Upstairs at the Savoy Hotel.

“It was a very good entertainment area, further down the street, there were a few other hotels … this was the entertainment precinct … Now it’s down in East Street and the Riverbank,” Mr Green said.

There are no development applications approved, or before Rockhampton Regional Council for the site.

“It would be lovely to see whatever they have planned there. it will be great,” Mr Green said.

“It is sad to see the history of a town go but realistically and economically nothing can last forever.”

BUILDING HISTORY

In 1898, the hotel was named the Queen’s Hotel, with licensee Louis Pfitzenmaier.

In 1900, the license was granted to a Mr P. E O’Reilly, who did some “extensive renovations” including adding a billiard room.

Over the years it was the Oriental, Astoria, Carlton and Savoy Hotel.

In 1933, a barmaid was reported to be murdered there.

It was well known for its topless barmaids.

The hotel was closed down in May 2003, after the Liquor Licensing Board, Queensland Police and Queensland Fire and Emergency Services inspected the building and ordered it be immediately closed due to “critical” fire safety failures.

The building sold in 2005 and again in 2013, but no significant development occurred.

The building sold for $400,000 at auction in November 2016 to Rockhampton businessman Wayne Daniels.