Buchanan's Hotel
Encyclopedia
Buchanan's Hotel was a hotel on Sturt Street in the Townsville CBD. It was used as a hotel from 1903–39, and during World War II
to house American officers. It caught fire and was destroyed in 1982.
Buchanan, a first-generation Scottish immigrant who owned multiple hotels in his lifetime, spared no expense in the construction of his eponymous pub: Buchanan's featured high-ceilinged bedrooms, gas lighting, electric bells to summon staff members and running water to wash stands in every room. It also contained a five-hundred square foot dining saloon, and the wrought-iron "iron lace" facade was created by Green's Foundry in Townsville. Its construction cost £12000, and it was the last hotel David Buchanan built before his death in 1913. He claimed that it stood "easily first in north Queensland", though commentators have suggested this claim might have been overstated slightly.
The architecture was a particularly notable feature of Buchanan's, one that would later lead to its display on an Australia Post
stamp. Dorothy and Bruce Gibson-Wilde note this in their 1988 book, A Pattern of Pubs: Hotels of Townsville 1864-1914:
, Como House in Melbourne and St. James Church
in Sydney
.
In 1982, a developer in Townsville purchased the hotel and wanted to knock it down and build a skyscraper there, but the Heritage Council said that they couldn't because of how old it was and its heritage. A few weeks later the hotel was destroyed in a fire.
Today, the former site of Buchanan's Hotel is a parking lot. Its owner, developer Bill Spee, has announced plans to build a "green" office block on the site.
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
to house American officers. It caught fire and was destroyed in 1982.
Construction and early history
Buchanan's Hotel in Townsville was built in 1903, with an ornate wrought iron and stained-glass facade in the Filigree style covering its front verandas. It was named for its owner, David Buchanan, who built it to replace his previous hotel, Prince of Wales, which sat on the same spot and was destroyed by fire in April 1902. Initially named the Prince of Wales after its predecessor, David Buchanan's pride in his building was such that in May 1903 he officially changed its name to match his own.Buchanan, a first-generation Scottish immigrant who owned multiple hotels in his lifetime, spared no expense in the construction of his eponymous pub: Buchanan's featured high-ceilinged bedrooms, gas lighting, electric bells to summon staff members and running water to wash stands in every room. It also contained a five-hundred square foot dining saloon, and the wrought-iron "iron lace" facade was created by Green's Foundry in Townsville. Its construction cost £12000, and it was the last hotel David Buchanan built before his death in 1913. He claimed that it stood "easily first in north Queensland", though commentators have suggested this claim might have been overstated slightly.
The architecture was a particularly notable feature of Buchanan's, one that would later lead to its display on an Australia Post
Australia Post
Australia Post is the trading name of the Australian Government-owned Australian Postal Corporation .-History:...
stamp. Dorothy and Bruce Gibson-Wilde note this in their 1988 book, A Pattern of Pubs: Hotels of Townsville 1864-1914:
Townsville's two most elaborate hotel buildings, the Queen's and Buchanan's, were designed in the same year (1902). Both mixed the exposed brick and painted plaster detailing of the Federation ear with iron lace, more typical of the nineteenth century. Buchanan's was justly famous for its superb cast and wrought iron.
The Second World War and Lyndon Johnson
Lyndon Johnson, later to become United States President, stayed at Buchanan's on 8 June 1942 when it was a lodging for American officers during World War II - a visit which he repeated during a Presidential tour of Australia on 23 October 1966. On that same day, he mentioned the hotel in his speech to a Townsville crowd estimated at 50,000.After the Second World War
After the war the Hotel was abandoned and left standing empty, and by the 1960s the top story was unstable and unusable. In 1973, it was featured on an Australian postal stamp as part of a series of stamps depicting beautiful buildings. Other buildings featured included the Sydney Opera HouseSydney Opera House
The Sydney Opera House is a multi-venue performing arts centre in the Australian city of Sydney. It was conceived and largely built by Danish architect Jørn Utzon, finally opening in 1973 after a long gestation starting with his competition-winning design in 1957...
, Como House in Melbourne and St. James Church
St. James Church, Sydney
St James' Church is an Anglican church in King Street in Sydney, Australia. Consecrated on 11 February 1824, the church was designed by the transported convict architect Francis Greenway during the governorship of Lachlan Macquarie, and is part of the historical precinct of Macquarie Street...
in Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
.
In 1982, a developer in Townsville purchased the hotel and wanted to knock it down and build a skyscraper there, but the Heritage Council said that they couldn't because of how old it was and its heritage. A few weeks later the hotel was destroyed in a fire.
Today, the former site of Buchanan's Hotel is a parking lot. Its owner, developer Bill Spee, has announced plans to build a "green" office block on the site.
Notable guests
Buchanan's hosted a number of notable Australians and others during its history, including:- American heiress and princess Mary Elsie MooreMary Elsie MooreMary Elsie Moore was an American heiress who married and divorced Italian prince Don Marino Torlonia, 4th prince of Civitella-Cesi.-Early life and education:...
- Actor Claude Bantock
- Cricketer Sir Donald Bradman
- United StatesUnited StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
President Lyndon Baines Johnson