You're approaching the grand Hotel Metropole! Look to your right - you'll spot a prominent two-storey red brick building with striking white decorative elements. You'll see the word “HOTEL” in bold, engraved on the facade above the first-floor windows. Notice those fancy arches and columns framing the central entrance? That’s classic heritage charm!
Now, let’s dive into the story of this place:
The Hotel Metropole is a heritage-listed gem at 253 Brisbane Street, West Ipswich. Designed by the renowned architect George Brockwell Gill and constructed in 1906, this grand old building has seen more than a century of Ipswich history. It was officially added to the Queensland Heritage Register on October 21, 1992 - quite a red-letter day for the hotel!
Initially built with a rustic yet elegant design, this two-storey brick hotel became particularly interesting in 1915 when part of its surrounding property was resumed by Queensland Railways. By 1925, the brewers Perkins & Co had taken over the lease, and when they merged with Castlemaine in 1928 to form Castlemaine Perkins, this renowned structure became part of a larger hotel empire.
George Brockwell Gill, the brain behind this architectural masterpiece, came all the way from London and settled in Ipswich in 1886. Among his prolific designs are the Ipswich Girls' Grammar School, the Ipswich Technical College, and the strikingly modern Walter Burley Griffin Incinerator from 1936. Gill certainly made his mark on Ipswich!
Since its opening, the Hotel Metropole has been a constant, serving as a hotel and a nightclub. It had a few name changes, becoming The Harp of Erin and the Silver Fern, before reverting to its original name by the mid-2000s. As of 2015, it houses the Waghorn gastropub and Club Metro nightclub, still under the Hotel Metropole banner.
So, if you're looking for a place to experience a blend of history and modern-day entertainment, you’ve found it right here! Whether you're into historic architecture, a good meal, or a bit of nightlife, the Hotel Metropole has it all. Enjoy your visit!
