Hotels
Barcaldine started with a large number of hotels in the main street, having 12 hotels operating at one stage in 1887. There was a deal of movement of whole buildings and rebuilding after fires claimed many especially in 1896, 1909, 1915, and 1932.
In the days when it was common to move whole buildings, it was not unusual for Barcaldine hotels to have arrived from other towns further up the railway line. Some were then moved to different locations in town or onto other towns.
The Terminus Hotel moved from its location in the centre of Oak Street – where it landed after being moved along the line – to the Beech/Oak street corner to be renamed the Springsure Hotel when the Withersfield Hotel moved from that corner to Ilfracombe to be renamed the Wellshot Hotel (existing). The Springsure burnt down and was replaced by Devery’s Hotel which eventually became the Globe Hotel finally closing in 2011.
The first Royal Hotel was the current Union Hotel. The second Royal Hotel replaced Emerson’s Hotel and is the current Artesian Hotel.
The White Horse Hotel moved to Longreach and became the Railway Hotel.
Other hotels were on the road between Barcaldine and Aramac (Half-way Hotel), and Barcaldine and Blackall (Patrick and Barcaldine hotels).
Many burned down in the numerous street fires, and only two surviving hotel buildings never burnt down – the Union Hotel and the Artesian Hotel [Emerson’s then Royal]. The Union has had major renovations over the years and only the very centre of the existing building survives from the original structure.
- Burned down, never rebuilt – Federal
- Burned down, rebuilt – Shakespeare, Commercial, Springsure/O’Devery’s/Globe, Welcome Home (became Federal)
- Burned down and rebuilt three times – Railway
- Burned down twice and never rebuilt – Exchange, West End
- The Globe Hotel is the first hotel to cease trading as a hotel and take on a new persona – as a tourism centre
- One hotel, the Queen’s Hotel (its existence verified in a street photo of 1888) appears to have never operated with a liquor license but was in business during the 1891 Shearers’ Strike.
SURVIVING HOTELS
Artesian Hotel, Barcaldine
The Artesian Hotel was originally known as Emerson’s Hotel, and then the Royal Hotel. 1990 flood in Oak Street with Artesian in centre (S Broughton image) 2004 view of hotel
Commercial Hotel, Barcaldine 1885-
McBride’s Commercial Hotel 1886-1922 The first Commercial Hotel in Barcaldine was licensed in 1886 by Patrick McBride. His first liquor licence application in June 1886 shows that he was unmarried,
Shakespeare Hotel, Barcaldine 1886-
The Shakespeare Hotel, then spelt ‘Shakspeare’ after its original owner George Page Shakspeare, was shifted from Pine Hill by rail in 1886. Mr Walter Crust changed the spelling to Shakespeare
Railway Hotel, Barcaldine 1886-
In 1886, John and Catherine Lennon arrived in Barcaldine, and John became the licensee of the (first) Railway Hotel. The Lennon family emigrated from Clady County, Armagh in Ireland. Five
Union Hotel, Barcaldine 1886-
The Union Hotel, when E A (Esau Abbiss) Peel brought it from Pine Hill in 1886, was called the Royal Hotel. The name changed when Joe and Margaret Edg took
NON-SURVIVING HOTELS
Springsure Hotel, Barcaldine 1887-1909
George Long was licensee of the Terminus Hotel from 1886 until 1887. The hotel was often called Long’s Hotel, and was situated on the Oak Street site where the video
Carriers’ Arms Hotel, Barcaldine 1886-1909
Carriers’ Arms Hotel came from Jericho to Barcaldine The Carriers’ Arms Hotel was brought to Barcaldine from Jericho in 1886 by John P. Vesper. Western Champion 2 April 1885 Somewhat
Withersfield Hotel, Barcaldine
Patrick Feinn (Finn) was the licensee of the Withersfield Hotel when it arrived in Barcaldine in 1886. Feinn moved the building, for which he already had a liquor licence, to
Going global – The Globe, Barcaldine
I am posting in full a recent news article on the latest iteration of the old hotel in Barcaldine now known simply as The Globe. The article was written by
Western Hotel, Barcaldine 1886-1888
The Western Hotel was licensed to George Hammond – also known as Ah Ming – from 1886 to 1888. George was married with three children when he applied for his
Women publicans of early Barcaldine
Barcaldine started with a large number of hotels in the main street, Oak Street. Many burned down in the numerous street fires. Some of them were rebuilt, and some of
Barcaldine Hotel & Patrick Creek Hotel
The Barcaldine Hotel c1885-1894 The Barcaldine Hotel was situated at Barcaldine Crossing, Aramac and Blackall roads. The location was also known as the 20-mile on the Isisford Road. The hotel
Emerson’s Hotel, Barcaldine
Emerson’s Hotel was one of the first hotels operating in Barcaldine. From 1886 to 1890, Alfred Emerson was the Proprietor and licensee. Oak Street c1888. Emerson’s Hotel would be one of
All Nations Hotel, Barcaldine 1886-1887
The first priprietor and licensee of the All Nations Hotel was Nels Erick Backlund a carrier who had resided at the Alice when he applied for his licence for the
Half-Way Hotel, Barcaldine
The Half-Way Hotel was situated at the 20 mile dam at Mildura, halfway between Barcaldine and Aramac. Alfred Emerson, from Emerson’s Hotel, was licensee from 1892-94 and at some point
Welcome Home Hotel, Barcaldine 1886-1909
Mrs Mary McPherson 1886 Mrs Mary McPherson was the owner of the Welcome Home Hotel when she applied for the victualler’s licence for the hotel in July 1886. Mary was
White Horse Hotel, Barcaldine 1886-1891
The White Horse Hotel was under the licence of John Ahern from August 1887. Ahern had previously had a licence for the All Nations Hotel (February 1887). He had taken
Federal Hotel, Barcaldine 1910-1962
The Federal Hotel was born out of the ashes of the Welcome Home Hotel. The 9 August 1909 Oak Street fire destroyed the Welcome Home Hotel. When the hotel was rebuilt
Globe Hotel, Barcaldine 1910-2011
In 1885 the original corner block was owned by Mr J Burns. Mr J Savage owned the block next door. 14 June 1887 Withersfield Hotel stood on the site of
Terminus Hotel, Barcaldine 1886-1909
The Terminus Hotel was one of the very early hotels in town that did not survive for long. Others included the Queens, The White Horse, The Western, The All Nations, The
Queen’s Hotel, Barcaldine
It appears that the Queen’s Hotel did not operate as licensed premises as it does not appear in any of the Barcaldine District Licensing Court reports. The only evidence that
West End Hotel, Barcaldine
In 1887, Mr. George H. Lewis was licensee of the West End Hotel. The hotel also included his blacksmith and wheelwright business. Western Champion, 4 October 1887 Western Champion, 5
Royal Hotel, Barcaldine 1897-
In 1891, E A Peel sold the original Royal Hotel in Barcaldine to Joe and Margaret Edg. The Edg’s had held the licence since 1889 when it had become known
Exchange Hotel, Barcaldine
The Exchange was not one of the first hotels that arrived from other places further down the railway line. The first Exchange Hotel building, built and owned by Essau A
Billiard Saloons
Motels
Barcaldine Country Motor Inn
Ironbark Inn Motel
In 1995 budget accommodation was added by the development of the Ironbark Inn on the Landsborough Highway. Paul Kelly, a director of owners Kryspine Pty Ltd announced the project would be ready for tourists by August. Constructed basically from unwanted dongers from Moranbah the proposal was received with some scepticism at first but went ahead in just a few months and is trading as a landmark business in 2017.
Landsborough Lodge Motel
Wanita and Mick Morrison moved historic buildings to what they called their Slab Hut Complex in Pine street. An old hut was brought from Beta; a Cobb and Co change station from the Jericho to Blackall road became an art studio; and a teamster’s cottage from Acacia Street housed a doll collection. It all grew into what became known as Mad Mick’s Funny Farm and hosted regular tourist visits for billy tea and damper functions. The Blacksmith’s cottage continues to offer accommodation in an authentic setting.
Star Lyn Motel Units