Prince Consort Hotel

Prince Consort Hotel
Prince Consort Hotel
	Prince Consort Hotel façade
Location	230 Wickham Street, Fortitude Valley, City of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Coordinates	27°27′27″S153°02′00″E / 27.4575°S 153.0332°E Coordinates: 27°27′27″S153°02′00″E / 27.4575°S 153.0332°E
Design period	1870s–1890s (late 19th century)
Built	1887–1888 (with extensions in 1932)
Built for	John Daniel Heal
Architect	Richard Gailey
Queensland Heritage Register
Official name	Prince Consort Hotel
Type	state heritage (built)
Designated	21 October 1992
Reference no.	600212
Significant period	1887–c. 1942 (fabric); 1888–ongoing (historical – use as Hotel)
Significant components	air raid shelter, shop/s, cellar
	Location of Prince Consort Hotel in Queensland Prince Consort Hotel (Australia)

Last updated May 06, 2023

Prince Consort Hotel is a heritage-listed hotel at 230 Wickham Street, Fortitude Valley, City of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. It was designed by Richard Gailey and built from 1887 to 1888 with later extensions. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 21 October 1992.^[1] In 2014, it is trading as the Elephant Hotel.^[2]

History

The present Prince Consort Hotel, a three-storeyed masonry building, was erected in 1887–1888 for Brisbane publican John Daniel Heal.^[1]

It was the second Prince Consort Hotel to occupy the site. The first was built c.1863 and leased by Heal. In 1879 Heal purchased the hotel and by 1887 he had acquired several adjoining subdivisions as well. The old building was demolished and its larger replacement took twelve months to build.^[1]

The new Prince Consort Hotel was designed by architect Richard Gailey, who called tenders in mid-1887.^[1]

It was erected by contractor William Ferguson at a cost of £ 9,400, and was completed in August 1888. Ferguson died before the hotel was finished, but the contract was completed by his executors.^[1]

Its construction in the 1880s reflected the general building boom in Queensland which accompanied a period of unprecedented economic growth. During the second half of the 1880s, Valley residents witnessed the construction of four large hotels all designed by architect Richard Gailey. The Wickham Hotel (1885), the Empire Hotel (1887), the Jubilee Hotel (1887) and the Prince Consort contained extensive accommodation and were located on prominent sites. Gailey also designed the Regatta Hotel at Toowong in 1886.^[1]

When completed, the new Prince Consort boasted one of the largest bars in Brisbane, three parlours, a large dining room, billiard room, kitchen, cellar, six bathrooms and twenty-eight bedrooms. Four large shops were also built on the ground floor.^[1]

Running the whole length of the first floor facade was a reception area, known as the Club Room, divided by a folding partition into two rooms. It was a regular meeting venue for local Valley groups such as lodges.^[1]

In 1935 the hotel underwent alterations and additions, the architect was John Patrick Donoghue and the contractor J Corbett. The hotel's curved, post-supported awning was probably replaced with the flat cantilevered awning at this time.^[1]

Description

The hotel consists of two, three storey, masonry buildings connected by timber verandahs.^[1]

The principal range along Wickham Street is rendered to resemble ashlar. It has balconies to the two upper floors with cast iron twin posts, and balustrades and friezes of differing designs to each floor. The upper balcony has a curved galvanised iron roof below a corbelled and bracketed string course, a rendered parapet with two triangular pediments, and concrete balusters and urns. French doors with fanlights, between pilasters, open onto the balconies. Changes to the street elevation have been confined to the ground floor shopfronts and the replacement of the original curved, post-supported awning with a flat cantilevered awning.^[1]

The second building at the rear, is at right angles to the main building. The two buildings are connected by verandahs, which although partially enclosed contain much of the original fabric including timber railings and valances.^[1]

A number of small accretions have been built at the rear of the building. In the yard behind the building is a large air raid shelter now used as a store room.^[1]

Internally the hotel retains its original layout and much of its 1880s detailing and finishes. The basement under the main building has openings knocked through the walls. The bars on the ground floor have been renovated a number of times. The main staircase is intact, as are plasterwork and joinery.^[1]

Heritage listing

Prince Consort Hotel was listed on the Queensland Heritage Register on 21 October 1992 having satisfied the following criteria.^[1]

The place is important in demonstrating the evolution or pattern of Queensland's history.

Erected during a period of rapid growth in the development of Fortitude Valley, the Prince Consort Hotel is significant as an excellent and intact example of a large, ornate hotel constructed in the late 1880s.^[1]

The place is important in demonstrating the principal characteristics of a particular class of cultural places.

Erected during a period of rapid growth in the development of Fortitude Valley, the Prince Consort Hotel is significant as an excellent and intact example of a large, ornate hotel constructed in the late 1880s.^[1]

The place is important because of its aesthetic significance.

The Prince Consort Hotel contributes to the Wickham Street streetscape, and is significant as one of a group of hotels designed by architect Richard Gailey which contribute to the architectural character of Brisbane through their imposing presence, extensive use of ornamental cast-iron and classical detailing.^[1]

The place has a special association with the life or work of a particular person, group or organisation of importance in Queensland's history.

The Prince Consort Hotel contributes to the Wickham Street streetscape, and is significant as one of a group of hotels designed by architect Richard Gailey which contribute to the architectural character of Brisbane through their imposing presence, extensive use of ornamental cast-iron and classical detailing.^[1]

Related Research Articles

Regatta Hotel is a heritage-listed hotel at 543 Coronation Drive on the corner of Sylvan Road, Toowong, City of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. It faces the Toowong Reach of the Brisbane River and was named after the rowing regattas held there. It was designed by Richard Gailey and built in 1886 by George Gazzard. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 21 October 1992.

John Daniel Heal (1825–1908) was an alderman and mayor of Brisbane, Australia.

Richard Gailey, Sr. was an Irish-born Australian architect.

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Hardy Brothers Building is a heritage-listed shop at 116 Queen Street, Brisbane City, City of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. It was designed by Richard Gailey and built in 1881. It is also known as Love's Auction Mart. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 21 October 1992.

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Corbett and Son Store is a heritage-listed store at 446–452 Brunswick Street, Fortitude Valley, City of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. It was designed by Robin Dods and built in 1908. It is also known as Diamonds Dry Cleaners, Isis Restaurant, and Peerless Dry Cleaners. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 26 May 2000.

The Phoenix Buildings are heritage-listed commercial buildings at 647 Stanley Street, Woolloongabba, City of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. They were designed by Richard Gailey and built from 1889 to 1890 by James Rix. They were added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 24 May 1995.

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St Patricks Church is a heritage-listed Roman Catholic church at 58 Morgan Street, Fortitude Valley, City of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. It was designed by Andrea Giovanni Stombuco and built from 1880 to 1882 by John Arthur Manis O'Keefe. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 21 October 1992.

Empire Hotel is a heritage-listed hotel at 339 Brunswick Street, Fortitude Valley, City of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. It was designed by Richard Gailey and built in 1888 by Smith and Ball. It was renovated in 1925 to a design by Richard Gailey, Junior. It was further renovated in 1937 to incorporate apartments designed by Hall and Phillips. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 21 October 1992.

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The Fortitude Valley Primitive Methodist Church is a heritage-listed former church at 483 Brunswick Street, Fortitude Valley, City of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. It was designed by Richard Gailey and built from 1876 to 1900 by John Smith & Sons. It is also known as Brunswick Street Methodist Church, Brunswick Street Uniting Church, Potters Gallery, Brisbane Modern Art Gallery and High Church. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 21 October 1992.

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Hunters Buildings is a heritage-listed group of commercial buildings at 179–191 George Street, Brisbane City, City of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. The individual buildings are Treasury Chambers, St Francis House, and Symons Building. They were designed by Richard Gailey and built in 1886 by George Gazzard. They were added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 21 October 1992.

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References

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 "Prince Consort Hotel (entry 600212)". Queensland Heritage Register . Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 1 August 2014.
↑ "The Elephant Hotel, Fortitude Valley" . Retrieved 21 November 2014.

Attribution

This Wikipedia article was originally based on "The Queensland heritage register" published by the State of Queensland under CC-BY 3.0 AU licence (accessed on 7 July 2014, archived on 8 October 2014). The geo-coordinates were originally computed from the "Queensland heritage register boundaries" published by the State of Queensland under CC-BY 3.0 AU licence (accessed on 5 September 2014, archived on 15 October 2014).

External links

Media related to Prince Consort Hotel at Wikimedia Commons

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[qhr-1] 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 "Prince Consort Hotel (entry 600212)". Queensland Heritage Register . Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 1 August 2014.

[2] "The Elephant Hotel, Fortitude Valley" . Retrieved 21 November 2014.

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