‘Outrageous insult’: Iconic pub makes way for mega-development

A 120-year-old regional Australian pub will be knocked down to make way for a mega-development but locals call it an “outrageous insult”.

A 120-year-old regional Australian pub will be knocked down to make way for a mixed-use development in the city’s heart.

The Hive Project has been a long time coming for Townsville on the regional Queensland city’s iconic Strand, but there is resistance from a 650-strong group of locals.

“Save the 120-year-old Criterion Hotel from demolition,” a recently started online petition states. “The Criterion Hotel on the Strand was constructed in 1904, replacing an earlier building of the same name,” organiser of the petition John Macdonald explains.

“In spite of being heritage listed, the Council decided to de-list it so it could be developed for high-rise apartments.

The Hive development site bounded by The Strand, Flinders, King and Wickham St in Townsville.

“This is an outrageous insult to the heritage of Townsville and was done without any consultation from residents,” it concluded – though there has been a significant degree of public consultation, unlike the petition suggests.

Having been in planning for the last 10 years, even changing hands between developers recently, the anticipated project has been earmarked to be one of the biggest in the north Queensland centre.

An area of Townsville's Strand which they are now calling The Hive.

The development promises to change the face of the city.

New developer Centurion Global’s website states The Hive is in the “preliminary approval” phase and the block-sized development would include serviced apartments, a commercial aspect, hotel, an entertainment precinct and residential apartments on the 1.7ha site in central Townsville.

Artist impressions show large, modern multi-story buildings and there is a plan to redevelop, but honour, another heritage hotel on the block – the Queens Hotel.

The Criterion Hotel however, has a development approval to be replaced with a residential accommodation tower.

The original Criterion Hotel in 1902, the year before the premises was flayed by Cyclone Leonta. Picture: Townsville City Libraries.

Affectionately known as “The Cri” during its years of operation, the Criterion was one of Townsville’s first hotels when it opened in 1865.

It was extensively damaged by Cyclone Leonta in 1903 but rebuilt and reopened in 1904, looking similar to what it looks like today.

Signers of the petition to save the pub – which closed in 2015 and has not reopened since – described its significance on the petition.

The Criterion Hotel on the Strand closed in 2015 and never reopened.

“I believe this beautiful old building should be saved. It is part of Townsville’s Heritage, and should remain … Please leave it alone. We have lost way too many old buildings here in Townsville,” local Marie Mulroney said.

“ … This is a historic hotel, and we have so many memories there, and it is the heart of our town,” another said.

“My mum worked there when all the boys were shipping out to Vietnam, and I grew up around there,” Valarie Allardice reminisced.

“Beautiful buildings like this so well suited to their location are becoming rare and are under threat from redevelopment,” lamented Victoria Pearse.

Helen Moll added: “Too many of these beautiful old buildings are being torn down. Keep going, and we’ll have none left.”

The Cri was a party pub in its final years. Picture: Bryan Lynch

In response to a 2016 failed proposal to remove it from the local heritage register, the City of Townsville received 219 submissions to support keeping the hotel.

Supporters cited its historical significance, that it could be incorporated into the development, or that it could be redeveloped.

A further 156 submissions from those keen to see it go said it should be demolished for new development, that it was unattractive, and that the local economy would benefit from The Hive.

Despite the 2016 decision to not to remove it from the register, in 2018, the City of Townsville confirmed: “The demolition of The Criterion Hotel has been approved and can go ahead once permits and planning approvals have been granted for a new building or buildings to be built on the site.”

The approval included conditions that included preserving any historical artefacts on the site.

Originally published as ‘Outrageous insult’: Iconic pub makes way for mega-development