Renovation works underway at historic Dululu Hotel

Works to restore a historic Central Queensland pub to its former glory are in full swing with a rare first glimpse at what to expect. VIDEO, PHOTOS

Works to restore a historic Central Queensland country pub to its former glory are underway, with plans for a whole new look and feel.

Banana resident Nicole Newman took over as one of the owners of the Dululu Hotel after the sale settled in March.

Ms Newman, who is also one of the owners of the Banana Accommodation Village and Banana Hotel Motel, said the decision to buy the establishment was its location.

“We drive through this way going to Rockhampton all the time and had seen it had been for sale,” she said.

Dululu Hotel owner Nicole Newman. Picture: Aden Stokes

“There’s quite a bit of work in this region, there are solar and wind farms proposed, and I think that is going to make the area quite busy so we were looking at it and thought this is the perfect little spot.

“You are at an intersection. A lot of people come through this way.”

The Dululu Hotel around the late 1930s or early 1940s. Picture: Contributed

The original hotel was built in 1928.

In 1935, the building was moved from Mount Morgan, where it was a boarding house, out to Dululu.

The Dululu Hotel after it was gutted by fire in September 2015.

The Dululu Hotel had been wrecked by a fire twice in its lifetime, most recently in 2015.

After being closed for nearly eight years, Ms Newman said she hoped to bring the Dululu Hotel back to being a hub for the community.

The Dululu Hotel before it sold in March 2023. Picture: realcommercial.com.au

With renovation works underway at the venue, she said they had tried to restore and keep as much as possible of the original structure.

“It will have the original cladding so it will look like the original Queenslander style but it will be refurbished,” she said.

“It will have a white exterior, not that one sensational yellow it has been in the past, and the interior colour scheme is going to be timber and green.

Concept art for the Dululu Hotel. Picture: Contributed

“Inside we will have a coffee shop with homemade pies, cakes and coffee.

“We will have a bar and meals.”

She said there would be an outdoor dining area to the rear of the venue, as well as a children’s playground outside.

Concept art for the Dululu Hotel. Picture: Contributed

She said there would be eight rooms upstairs plus a manager’s quarters.

“They will be completely refurbished,” she said.

“We will be adding ensuites to them and they will be fitted out with queen sized beds.”

She said they were hoping to open in January and would be looking to recruit additional staff.

There will be an outdoor dining area to the rear of the Dululu Hotel, which is undergoing renovation works. Picture: Aden Stokes

“We would like to have everything finished before we open,” she said.

“Not one person that I have met is not excited.

“Whether they are from Biloela or Baralaba, especially the locals I think are excited to get their pub back.

“I think it will put Dululu back on the map.”

Originally published as Renovation works underway at historic Dululu Hotel