Sad fate befalling old pubs

OUR story today showing one of our historic pubs, the Great Northern Hotel, continues to languish, closed to the public and facing an uncertain future, is a crying shame.

More than four years after it was closed, following damage by fire, its owner and insurer remain in dispute, seemingly unable to reach a settlement.

Meanwhile, the property, identified as a fine example of this city’s and state’s heritage, remains unused and is likely deteriorating further without continuing care and use.

Even more unsettling is that this problem is being repeated across the city.

The beautiful former Queens Hotel on

The Strand has been shut for many years, sitting idle, awaiting a wider redevelopment of the properties surrounding it.

The former Criterion Hotel alongside the Queens is also closed, slated for demolition for a theatre project long since shelved by the council.

More old pubs have shut or are boarded up in South Townsville.

Time marches on and lifestyles change, meaning the operators of these old buildings have struggled to maintain them as viable operations.

Their problems have been compounded by high costs of operation, particularly for electricity and to comply with more stringent requirements for fire and public safety.

As part of its heritage listing, the Great Northern Hotel is considered a symbol of tropical Townsville, a fine example of a twostoreyed brick and timber hotel with elaborate cast-iron decorative detailing on its verandas, and seen as contributing to the streetscape of Townsville.

This is all very well except when it comes to who pays for the upkeep of these buildings.

The best solution is continuing use, as has occurred with the Newmarket Hotel, though not a heritage building, as lodgings.

The council is considering grants to owners who refurbish derelict buildings in the CBD.

This idea has merit but we are yet to see the detail. Let’s hope it doesn’t come too late.