Townsville’s iconic Shamrock Hotel to undergo renovations and name change
It’s the end of an era for a Townsville pub which has helped quench locals’ thirsts since the 1800s. Find out why it was closing.
News
Don't miss out on the headlines from News. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Final drinks are being called at one of Townsville’s most beloved and historic pubs before it undergoes a rebrand.
Locals are being urged to come down to the Shamrock Hotel on Friday for a couple of coldies at its “last hurrah party” before the pub closes for renovations and reopens under a new name The Pub on Palmer.
Located at 31 Palmer St, South Townsville, “The Shamrock”, as locals fondly dub it, has enjoyed the luck of the Irish since it began quenching thirst with its pots of gold in 1889.
Recognised by Townsville City Council’s places of cultural heritage value, the two-storey pub features a restaurant, bar, beer garden, commercial kitchen, and accommodation on a 1027 sqm site.
The sad farewell was confirmed by the Shamrock’s social media page, which declared that it was the “end of an era”.
A special event was planned to send the Shamrock off in style with a sausage sizzle, pizzas, raffles, and live music played by Tammy Moxon (2pm to 5pm), The Charlie’s (5pm to 8pm), and Mik Henderson (8pm to 11pm).
Staff will also give away some of the pub’s 75 inch Hisense TVs at the “last shindig”.
The Shamrock Hotel was purchased by the Star Group for $1.5m in 2021.
Led by Tully-born, Harvard-educated hotels boss Steven Shoobridge, Star Group is Queensland’s largest independently owned and operated pub and liquor retail group with 38 licenced venues, more than 90 retail liquor outlets, and six accommodation venues.
In Townsville, this includes the The Palmer Collective, the Sunland Hotel development at Sunland Plaza, Rydges Southbank Townsville, the West End Hotel, and Bob’s Bulk Booze in Garbutt.
Star Group’s management was unable to comment at this stage.
Prior to the Star Group, the Shamrock Hotel was held by the Sewell family for 35 years.
News of the pub’s renaming was greeted with confusion and sadness on the Shamrock’s social media page.
Kristine Hunter asked, “why (the) change name after all these years?”
“The Shamrock has been an establishment for years, leave (the) name alone. If it must be changed use Shamrock on Palmer,” Ms Hunter said.
Nys Christo said, “that’s sad, I’ve always known it as the Shamrock”.
Per Elling asked, “what about Shamrock on Palmer? Anything else is blasphemy and treason.”
“Now I will finally ditch my Shamrock T-shirt I bought in 1994. I have nursed it for nearly 30 years, all for nothing,” Mr Elling said.
Millers Jkm said, “heritage pub, heritage name, so don’t change it.”
Originally published as Townsville’s iconic Shamrock Hotel to undergo renovations and name change
‘Record-breaking’: Figures show staggering amounts of rainfall across NQ
North Queensland has broken records numbers over the last two weeks of wet weather and flash flooding across the region, with some places recording more than 2m of rain.
Mum, stand-up comic reps NQ this Survivor series
The business development manager turned comedian, now turned Australian Survivor contestant has revealed how she prepped for the world-renowned series ahead of its premiere.