9 Toowoomba historical pub, hotel renovations over past two years
The Garden City now boasts an impressive array of modern and stylish venues, created out of historical pubs and hotels that have a combined age of more than 1000 years.
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Toowoomba’s pubs and hotels have been revitalised thanks to incredible transformations, with nine venues renovated over the past two years.
While the hospitality sector has endured a difficult two years due to Covid-19 and natural disasters, the Garden City now boasts an impressive array of modern and stylish venues.
The premises in question have more than 1000 years of history, but new ownership or new dollars have contributed to their revitalisation.
Some have been completed already, others are being built right now and a few are still in the planning stage.
Here are the pubs which have enjoyed a makeover since 2020 or will be soon, in no particular order.
The most recent transformation in the pipeline, Brisbane-based Hakfoort Group lodged plans with the Toowoomba Regional Council last week to revamp the Gowrie Road Hotel on Bridge Street in Newtown.
According to the report by Precinct Urban Planning, the works include retaining the original structure and removing a series of “ad hoc” extensions, to be replaced with a more uniform expansion.
The report said the finished product would feature formal and terraced dining areas, a gaming room, beer gardens, children’s play area and a commercial kitchen.
It is Hakfoort Group’s latest Toowoomba venture since completing a $15m facelift of the Burke and Wills Hotel in the CBD, which reopened in 2018.
The Gowrie Road Hotel’s history dates back to as early as 1867, when it was known as the Rising Sun Hotel, based on Chronicle records.
The famous Metropole Hotel, an icon of Ruthven Street in Toowoomba since 1864, was at risk of being demolished before music industry veteran Kosta Theodosis took on the venue with his wife Jasmine in 2019.
What followed was a beautiful transformation that culminated in the Met Hotel, a live music venue, American food-style eatery and pub considered among the trendiest in Toowoomba.
Speaking in 2020, Mr Theodosis said the six-month project was a labour of love considering the building’s ageing structure.
“We just couldn’t stop ourselves. We really wanted to make it the best place it could be … to build a place that we really wanted to come to,” he told The Chronicle.
After opening briefly just before the pandemic hit, the Met was reopened in June with a massive launch party.
It now hosts touring bands as well as local acts and is considered a popular venue among artists.
3. BLUE MOUNTAIN HOTEL, HARLAXTON
A transformation that is almost a decade in the making, hospitality giants ALH Group was approved in 2015 by the Toowoomba Regional Council to demolish parts of the hotel and replace it with a new sports bar, smoking area, gaming lounge and an extra 21 car parks.
But the redevelopment at the New England Highway site was delayed twice due to a range of issues, including the discovery of a disused well beneath the parking lot.
The council granted a two-year extension in July last year and work has already started at the site.
The Blue Mountain Hotel dates back to 1888 as a pub to service the railway construction workers, and has hosted functions, weddings and even gigs in recent years.
4. ROYAL HOTEL, NORTH TOOWOOMBA
Originally built in 1866 before being rebuilt in 1906, the Royal Hotel on Ruthven Street enjoyed a major refresh after plans for a 500 sqm extension were approved by the council in late 2019.
The venue under owner Andrew Griffiths is now almost unrecognisable inside, with new dining areas, bar and outdoor areas.
The expansion added another 309sq m of gross floor area to the actual hotel, increasing its maximum patronage to 233, as well as increasing the number of car parks.
5. SPOTTED COW, TOOWOOMBA CITY
The future of the Spotted Cow was up in the air for months after it was put on the market by long-term owners the Coorey family and then shut during Covid-19 in 2020.
But the Ruthven Street pub received a welcome boost later that year when Hallmark Group snapped up the property and business for a deal worth millions.
The new owners pumped $1.5m into the Spotted Cow to completely revamp its interior and exterior, before reopening in December 2020.
Hallmark director Scott Hempel said the company wanted to retain the pub’s country charm.
“The Spotted Cow is truly an institution and honouring the venue’s local history and charm amid the renovations has been paramount for Hallmark Group and myself,” he said.
The Spotted Cow was originally opened as the Sovereign Hotel in 1892, before being renamed in 1990.
Under Phil Coorey and his family’s ownership, the pub was known for its country feeds, sports bar and hosting national touring acts.
6. STOCK HOTEL, HARRISTOWN
A longstanding watering hole for Toowoomba’s western suburbs and located next to the train lines running parallel to Anzac Avenue, developments started at the then-Stock Exchange Hotel in 2017.
Hakfoort Group (see above), which had owned the pub since 2002, sold it to a “larger-than-life” character in 2017 for $3.6m.
That character was John George, who owns one of Brisbane’s most luxurious homes.
Mr George’s company Stock Properties proceeded to completely revamp the pub and rename it simple the Stock Hotel some years later.
Alterations included an extension to the rear of the building for a new garden lounge and smoking area, as well as a new covered deck and changes to the front facade.
The hotel revealed in March it was still upgrading its kitchens to cater for more patronage.
7. TATTS, TOOWOOMBA CITY
Tatts, previously known as the Tattersall’s Hotel, has been a prime watering hole in the Toowoomba CBD since 1883.
It was previously owned by John Clarkson, who battled through Covid-19 to keep it open during 2020.
But it was taken over by Barry and Christina Scarborough in early 2021, before being reopened with a fresh look in April of that year.
The walls are now adorned with pink and green palm trees, there is greenery throughout, and the roof is lined with cane pendant lights.
Tatts remains a staple of Toowoomba’s live music scene, as well as a required stop for most pub crawl enthusiasts.
8. SHAMROCK HOTEL, TOOWOOMBA CITY
Easily one of Toowoomba’s most notorious pubs, the famous Shamrock Hotel could soon be completely revamped through a new renovation plan — including a new name.
After current owner Wayne Lee bought the Ruthven Street property in 2013 for a touch over $5m, the venue has been on and off the market several times.
Now applicant Simtech Creations Pty Ltd have lodged plans with the Toowoomba Regional Council to give the exterior and interior of the venue a much-needed facelift.
The application will make alterations to the current signage, along with new outside walls sporting “subway tiles”.
There will also be a new projecting wall sign installed as part of the revamp.
To top it off, the Shamrock will be renamed the “Ruthven St Tavern”.
While details on the venue’s history are scarce, the property easily dates back to the early 20th century and possibly earlier.
9. DELACY’S HOTEL, NORTH TOOWOOMBA
One of the most transformative examples on this list is the new use, or rather uses, of the old DeLacy’s Hotel on Ruthven Street.
Originally known as the Moffatt, it was part of John Anderson’s stable of pubs before it was suddenly closed in October 2018.
Mr Anderson, who had been battling illness, passed away in July 2019 and the property was taken over by his sons.
The Ellison family, which has a long history in the cattle and butcher industries in the Darling Downs, took over the site in 2020 and transformed it into a boutique butchery called the Paddock.
A drive-through coffee business, The Shed, was then created at the rear to make use of the old bottle shop lanes, and a restaurant called The Plate has been established this year using the balance of the original pub.
For those confused on the name’s spelling — the pub was called “DeLacy’s” on the outside of the building when it closed.
Think we’ve missed any? Let us know at thomas.gillespie@news.com.au.
Originally published as 9 Toowoomba historical pub, hotel renovations over past two years
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