HERE’S CHEERS TO FLYNNS UPGRADE
We treasure the its significance of to heritage and want its bring it back to former glory JAMES PASCOE
One of Townsville’s most historic pubs is to be restored to its former glory under a sale and leaseback deal.
Flynns Irish Bar in Flinders Street East is under contract to Melbourne investor Bob Jones and will undergo a complete upgrade.
It will be leased back to publican Steve Flynn.
James Pascoe, who launched property agency Pascoe Commercial earlier this year, said the sale of Flynns would allow for an injection of new capital to upgrade the venue.
“Working with Mr Flynn, it will be developed into something this town has not
seen before,” Mr Pascoe said.
“We treasure the significance of its heritage and want to bring it back to its former glory.”
More than $1m is expected to be spent, including on opening of the building’s first floor, potentially developing a beer garden in an area used for car parking, using a World War II signals bunker and 19th century stables as heritage features and upgrading Flynns.
Mr Flynn said it was great opportunity to develop the potential of the property.
He said it would allow him to focus on running the pub, while still injecting some of his ideas into its restoration. The building is steeped in history. Townsville heritage consultant Ray Holyoak said the building had many special features.
He hoped its upgrade would encourage the reuse of other buildings in the city which were dormant or underused.
Built and occupied by the Bank of NSW from 1887 to 1935, it is associated with the
b a n k ’ s establishment in Townsville and the growth of Townsville as a major port.
The property was bought by the Australian Meat Employees Industry Union in the 1940s and requisitioned by the Armed Forces during World War II.
A detachment of Area
Signals personnel established a telegraph, switchboard and dispatch rider service in the building and a concrete bunker was built at the rear of the property to house a cypher group who decoded Japanese messages.
Pigeon lofts were built in the yard to relay messages to ships by carrier pigeons. From the late 1940s until the early 1970s, the building was a centre for the labour movement.
Apart from the AMIEU, at varying times the Trades and Labour Council, the Seaman’s Union and the Communist Party operated from its first floor.