No cheering at former pub

OLD buildings are a wonderful nod to the past but cost a fortune to refurbish and maintain.

That’s what Cairns Regional Council has found to its horror with the former Courthouse Hotel which it bought for $5.75 million in 2016.

Nearly three years down the track and the old pub is still empty, closed after the council bought it, instead of a going concern which could have returned ratepayers some income.

Now as the council delves deeper into the former house of law’s insides, the repair costs are mounting and no funding is in sight for the proposed $40 million gallery precinct.

At this stage fixing up the mess has exceeded the original purchase price. It’s now about $6.2m.

The council intends to restore the building to its former glory but some heritage aspects were replaced with cheap materials by previous owners.

Furthermore, lead paint has been used throughout as well as a huge amount of asbestos. Major infrastructrure damage has had to be fixed.

The council is prepared to spend $13m of rate money for the gallery precinct which would also incorporate the current art gallery and the adjoining former Mulgrave Shire Council offices.

But the council needs the state and federal governments to chip in $13m each and at this stage nothing has been forthcoming.

There’s no doubt the building is a valuable asset but the biggest mistake the council made was leaving it empty instead of reopening the pub under professional management to draw some revenue while a final plan and funding for the precinct is finalised.

It is a pub with no beer or cheer. Nick Dalton Deputy editor