Hotel reno still possible
Upgrades still on the cards for historic pub
OWNERS of the Blue Mountain Hotel at Harlaxton have applied to the Toowoomba Regional Council for more time to begin renovating the historic pub.
ALH Group, which operates more than 300 licensed venues and 550 retail liquor outlets across Australia, was first approved for a major redevelopment of the historic building in August 2015.
The redevelopment would include the demolition of the drive-through bottle shop, demolition of non-heritage internal elements, bar, gaming lounge and level one balcony enclosure, and removal of pavement surface, loading area and one of the existing three driveways.
With demolition complete, ALH group plans to build a new sports bar and terrace, new smoking area, expanded and refitted gaming lounge, new restroom facilities, reinstate the front veranda, reinstate the open level one balcony, and other modifications.
In applying for an extension on the time frame of the development application, ALH group said the start of approved works had been “delayed as a result of previous market conditions”.
Originally called the Harlaxton Hotel, the pub was built in 1902.
According to a heritage report prepared by JM Pearce Architects in 2015, the premises later fell into “some disrepute”.
“During 1926 the licensee was fined for Queensland Liquor Act breaches. The breaches included serving alcohol in the bar to women, and with having permitted women of ill-fame to remain at the hotel longer than was necessary to supply them with refreshments,” the report said.
“Senior-Sergeant Martoll, advised the hotel had been under police observation. He noted that many young men and women frequented the hotel and conducted themselves in a disorderly manner.
Speculators believe the decision by new lessee Thomas Blake to change the hotel’s name to the Blue Mountain Hotel in 1931 was linked to its formerly poor reputation.