Queens Hotel reopens after dramatic transformation by Hurst Constructions
First built in 1892, a historic NQ pub is wowing locals and visitors after its four-month, multimillion-dollar transformation. Check out the before and after pics.
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The Burdekin community is buzzing with excitement after Ayr’s oldest hotel recently reopened its doors following four months of renovations.
Located on the corner of Queens St and Edwards St, the Queens Hotel was first built in 1892, then was twice destroyed by fire in 1902 and 1935, before the present building was constructed in 1936.
The hotel has been owned by husband and wife team Carly and Adam Child since 2009, who have proudly maintained the pub’s independence, despite many other North Queensland pubs being absorbed by large corporations.
After five years planning, Ms Child said they embarked on a staged renovation worth millions last year, with support from Townsville builder Hurst Constructions Queensland, and “as many local tradies as they could find”.
“The goal was to have a beautiful pub that we could showcase to the Burdekin”, Ms Child said.
During the first stage, which was completed in July 2024, she said they upgraded the gaming room, knocked down some walls and boosted the number of gaming machines from 22 to 33.
“We closed the rest of the downstairs hotel on Australia Day and started stage two which included removing the cold room, existing bar and a few walls. The hotel basically was a shell to start again,” she said.
“We’ve been able to continue trading upstairs in particular on Friday and Saturday nights in the existing night club”
She described the changes as “mostly cosmetic”, including removing a wall, replacing the bar and cold room, buying brand new furniture, and giving the venue a coat of paint.
“We’ve got more space and seating capacity throughout the hotel and the hotel now flows from one area to another whereas before you have to go out from one section of the hotel to walk around behind the bar to another section of the hotel.”
The final stage involves replacing the toilets, and a future stage could see the nightclub upgraded.
Since soft opening on Monday, she said they had been “overwhelmed with the support from the Burdekin”, with positive feedback from the visitors about the new range of wines and the return of their pub favourites.
Hurst Constructions managing director Jarrod Hurst said they worked closely with architects BSPN for the Queens Hotel upgrade – who they also collaborated with on Townsville’s massive Twin City Hotel.
“We started Stage 2 (the main bar) in January this year. We completely gutted the main bar, cold rooms, conference areas, and structural supports to open it into one huge open space with one of the longest bars we have ever done,” Mr Hurst said.
For more information, visit: www.facebook.com/QueensHotelAyr.
Originally published as Queens Hotel reopens after dramatic transformation by Hurst Constructions
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