Toowoomba’s Gowrie Road Hotel approved for massive extension despite backlash from neighbours

A longstanding Toowoomba pub will be dramatically revamped by its owner, despite concerns from neighbours that the venue already attracts significant anti-social behaviour.

A historic pub near close to the centre of Toowoomba has been cleared for a massive expansion and revitalisation by the council, despite opposition from neighbours.

Brisbane-based Hakfoort Group has been approved for plans 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.

In the assessment report with the approval, council planning officer Emily Hinchliffe said the extension would result in an extra 400 sqm being added to the hotel.

APPROVED: The Hakfoort Group has been approved for plans to revitalise the historic Gowrie Road Hotel on Bridge Street in Newtown.

“The demolition will remove the drive-through bottle shop, kitchen, restaurant, gaming room and associated amenities and will facilitate the new extension,” she wrote.

“The proposed extension will comprise a new gaming area and gaming bar, dining area, kids area, large kitchen and bar area and associated amenities, four new DOSA areas and an indoor and outdoor beer garden.

“The ground floor of the two storey hotel component retained as part of the application will be retrofitted from the main bar area to a new large dining area.”

But the approval wasn’t achieved without issue, after a petition and four written submissions were made to the council opposing the development.

Key issues included the expansion of gaming facilities, the new size of the pub, potential increases to crime and its proximity to the Pure Land Learning College.

In its submission, the college argued the venue had attracted negative social behaviour to the area near the its campus.

APPROVED: The Hakfoort Group has been approved for plans to revitalise the historic Gowrie Road Hotel on Bridge Street in Newtown.

“We and our neighbours have faced break-ins affecting our properties and cars, littering of liquor and beer bottles, damage to our fencing that is contiguous to the hotel, trespassing, loud and disorderly voices from inebriated people late at night,” the submission said.

“The hotel expansion will exponentially aggravate these problems.

“On several occasions, we have sought assistance from the local police because of aggressive people coming onto our property.”

APPROVED: The Hakfoort Group has been approved for plans to revitalise the historic Gowrie Road Hotel on Bridge Street in Newtown.

In response to the concerns, Ms Hinchliffe said the gaming hours at the revamped venue would be reduced from 4am to 2am, while also arguing most other issues could be corrected with the right conditions.

“It is considered that the proposed expansion of the Gowrie Road Hotel is not inconsistent with the intended use for the area, noting that the proposed development does not intend to change the use of the premises from the use it has been operating since its establishment,” she wrote.

“Notwithstanding, while the size of the gaming room is set to increase, the applicant is proposing to maintain the existing number of gaming licences and machines currently in place at the premises.”

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.