Stand up for the Cri
I RAN into Bob Katter and his local state candidate Julianne Wood last Friday evening at my local Kirwan watering hole and struck up a discussion with them about the Criterion Hotel. It seems Bob’s family has had an association with the pub going back many years.
He told a story about his Uncle Burty Katter, who always dressed in white and was a rugby league tragic.
Burty used to travel around the country a fair bit and at one stage went missing. After a long family hunt for him he was finally tracked down at the Criterion, living under the watchful eye of long-term publican and fellow rugby league tragic Bluey Raleigh.
This was in the Foley Shield’s heyday. At that time the pub played a major role in rugby league culture. The walls were covered with team photos and other memorabilia.
It’s just another story about the Cri. The pub is 116 years old; a magnificent historical building standing strong and defiant after all these years. It is an excellent example of a cultural place from that time.
It stands defiant in the light of Townsville City Council’s approval for its demolition as part of the Hive development.
It is hard to understand why the building can’t be retained as part of the proposed development. Its retention would provide an outstanding asset for the owners.
As I see it, there are only two things that can save the Cri:
1. A change of heart by the owners or future owners; or
2. Intervention by the state government.
On August 28 last year, I wrote to every member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly requesting state intervention in the matter. This was just prior to the parliamentary sittings at the Entertainment Centre from September 3-5. Members had to drive past the Criterion to get to the sittings. They would have observed first-hand this distinctive building.
Towards the end of September, I received a reply from the minister responsible for arts and heritage, Leeanne Enoch. It appears that stop order provisions are contained in the Queensland Heritage Act 1992 but can only be enacted when State Heritage registration exists. The Criterion is not listed on the Queensland Heritage Register.
On January 29 this year, I made application to the Department of Environment and Science to have the
Criterion entered as a place in the State Heritage Register.
My application has been received by the department but is presently classified as a draft as more information is necessary for acceptance.
I have provided a significant amount of material in my application but I have been advised more is required.
I am at the stage now where I don’t think I have the resources or the expertise to continue with this course of action.
I am advised by local historical practitioners that
State Heritage registration is much more difficult now than it was when the Queensland Heritage Register was first introduced in 1992.
Bob Katter told me that his party would look at ways of saving the Cri. I would ask our other state politicians to become more involved in protecting this historical and culturally important building by whatever means is at their disposal, e.g. lobbying for resources to allow the heritage listing process to proceed.
I also believe that, in the community interest, all aspiring candidates for the October state election should declare their policy position on this very important issue.