One of Hamilton’s landmarks, Hamilton Motor Inn, has been sold for the first time in 30 years, having been bought from its original owners for roughly $6 million.
JLL Metropolitan Sales & Investments, which handles the sale of the 22-room property, revealed the five-week bidding had been hotly contested.
The listing has received a total of 11 bids, which is a mix of buyer groups that include private investors, accommodation operators, and developers looking to reposition the asset.
Photo credit: Aaron Corrie/Google Maps
However, a business registered to two directors of Eagle Farm-based Epoca Constructions topped all the competitive bidders.
The privately owned company has more than 50 years experience in Civil Engineering construction and has a diversified client base. Some of their projects include the Wakerly District Sports Park, the Moggill District Sports Complex, and Gladstone Dozer Bridge.
The iconic hotel, sold in March 2022, was considered as one of the major players during the early tourism boom in Brisbane. The five-level riverfront property is a long-time flagship of the inner north, as it boasts uninterrupted views of the river and the skyline.
Photo credit: Google Street View
It features function space and restaurant, rear courtyard, rooftop terrace, generous on-grade parking, and a caretaker’s unit.
In relation to the sale of Hamilton Motor Inn, Gareth Closter, Senior Vice President at JLL Hotels & Hospitality Group, believes the Queensland accommodation market is coming back.
Many investors these days take part in the emerging trend in real estate, wherein they acquire multiple hotels and motels, and create their own brands rather than putting in hotel management agreements.
JLL believes the location of the property, along with the opportunity to reposition and add value to it were some of the key drivers for enquiry during the Expressions of Interest campaign.
Since the arrival of the early European settlers in Brisbane, Hamilton and its environs have always been regarded as a highly desirable area to reside. One local landmark that has stood the test of time for over 150 years is Hamilton Hotel, a place that history also credits for giving the suburb its name.
Early Beginnings
Gustav Hamilton, a prominent solicitor from Toowoomba, opened the Hamilton Hotel in 1865 for horse racing patrons. Gustav, a prominent landowner in the Eagle Farm district, built the hotel which still stands on the same site today.
Located at the corner of Kingsford Smith Drive (formerly Hamilton Road) and Racecourse Road, the hotel first catered to horse-drawn wagons travelling from Breakfast Creek. Because of its strategic location, the hotel was part of a major travel route in Brisbane.
The white building is possibly the Hamilton Hotel on the corner of Racecourse road. Photo Credit: Lost Brisbane/Facebook
Hamilton Hotel was a large wooden structure, similar to a huge homestead, set by the banks of the Brisbane River.
Frequent guests fondly referred to the hotel as “The Hamilton,” which became the main reference point of the district, especially since there were not a lot of busy and prominent establishments in the area. It wasn’t long until “Hamilton” came to informally refer to the entire area, not just the hotel.
Wealthy Enclave. Destination Location.
It was Hamilton Hotel that launched the suburb as a destination location as its patronage increased and the suburb’s residents grew. The hotel promoted the scenic surrounds of the locale and provided the community and guests with both convenience and socio-cultural enrichment.
From the 1860s to the 1880s, the suburb of Hamilton also became known as the “gentlemen’s estates” as settlers built their large villas and mansions here, spurring a boom for the residential sector.
Even then, the subdivision allotments that went up for sale in Hamilton were priced two or three times more than the blocks in nearby suburbs, such as Mitchelton.
Photo Credit: Lost Brisbane/Facebook
Hamilton attracted old wealth and everyone regarded the suburb as an ideal place to live because of its premier location. The elevated lands gave residents a sweeping view of the beautiful river scenery, the central business district, and the surrounding suburbs.
Photo Credit: Queensland Places
When Gustav retired to Toowoomba, he sold Hamilton Hotel to Sam Hamilton who made the most out of the famous family name and sustained the venue’s popularity.
In 1904, Hamilton was officially recognised as a town and the owners of Hamilton Hotel changed hands a number of times. Among its previous operators were J.R. Ahern and his wife, and E.J. Stewart of the Stewart Hotels.
Modern Transformation
By the 1960s, then-owner Castlemaine Perkins Ltd completely rebuilt the hotel as a modern two-storey brick building, with a concreted car parking facility that could accommodate more than 200 cars. The hotel also had a bar and lounge that could accommodate hundreds of guests at a time.
Tom Wilson, the managing director of Castlemaine Perkins Ltd, planned the rebuild of the hotel carefully into two sections to improve the efficiency of the hotel’s operations.
The new Hamilton Hotel introduced an unusual ventilating system that eliminated cigarette smoke indoors. Its design also took advantage of the natural light for the public bar facing Kingsford Smith Drive, whilst a private bar for 200 guests fronted Racecourse Road.
Photo Credit: Hamilton Hotel
Hamilton Hotel became known as luxury accommodation with an upstairs and downstairs dining room, as well as a food dispensary that provided guests with choices of quick snacks and a wide-ranging menu that could satisfy the most discerning taste.
Eight cold rooms were built at the back and three rooms with walls that can be dismantled were added for other uses. This made it easier for the hotel staff to serve bar guests refreshing drinks and good food.
All the self-contained rooms on the second floor had their own toilet and bath, Hallstrom refrigerator, television, and telephone. There was also a built-in table in each room so that traveling businessmen can make their quarters their temporary office.
In the 1970s, another renovation added venues like the Pioneer Grill Room, the Tally Ho Bar, and the River Rooms fine dining area to the hotel, allowing it to accommodate more events such as business seminars, birthday parties, and wedding celebrations.
Hamilton Hotel Today
The ALH Group, under Bruce Mathieson, took ownership of the hotel as its expanded its business in Queensland in 2000. In 2015, Hamilton Hotel commemorated its 150th birthday and has remained a popular and trendy social venue for both locals and tourists.
Today, Hamilton Hotel is pegged to benefit from the upcoming multi-stage development of Northshore Hamilton, the massive event space and recreational centre, prior to the 2023 Brisbane Olympics. Stage 1 of this development is underway.
The Brisbane Millinery Fair 2021 will showcase some of the city’s best milliners and race wear accessories at Hamilton Hotel on the 18th of April, inviting visitors to shop from a vast selection of high-quality hats and headpieces designed by eight of Brisbane’s top milliners.
Hats by fashion-forward milliner Sandy Aslett, a popular choice in the autumn and winter racing fashion circuit, will be available for visitors to try on and purchase.
A Sandy Aslett creation. Photo credit: Facebook/Brisbane Millinery Fair
Hat & Crown Millinery will feature a range of unique and beautiful hats, all hand-crafted and with extra attention to detail with designs by Jo Phelan.
A piece by Hat & Crown Millinery Photo credit: Facebook/Brisbane Millinery Fair
Another label, Crazy Teapot, offers hats and headwear sporting feminine designs by Brenda Lui.
Created by Crazy Teapot. Photo credit: Facebook/Brisbane Millinery Fair
Another one of the millinery labels who’ll feature a collection of their work at the fair is Belle Folie, notable for their bridal and vintage racewear pieces.
One of Belle Folie’s creations. Photo credit: Facebook/Brisbane Millinery Fair
Hats from Alison Clark Millinery, on the other hand, have a unique and sculptural flair. A collection will be available at the fair for people to wear and purchase.
Created by Alison Clark. Photo credit: Facebook/Brisbane Millinery Fair
Kylie Heagney Millinery will also showcase their selection of headwear. Kylie herself comes from a racing family, and her work has been featured in numerous fashion events such as Brisbane’s Mercedes Benz Fashion Festival.
A Kylie Heagney creation. Photo credit: Facebook/Brisbane Millinery Fair
Another featured label will be Kate McKell’s J.A.R. Millinery, whose designs draw inspiration from Kate’s experiences in life. Kate first took up millinery as a hobby, and her passion eventually evolved into a full-fledged business.
Designed by Kate McKell. Photo credit: Facebook/Brisbane Millinery Fair
Last but not least, the fair will offer a collection of headwear from My Hat Millinery, featuring designs by Jane Moy.
One of Jane Moy’s creations. Photo credit: Facebook/ Brisbane Millinery Fair
Follow the Brisbane Millinery Fair 2021’s Facebook event page for more information concerning the fair, headwear, and any other special updates and announcements. The event will be hosted at the Hamilton Hotel in 442 Kingsford Smith Drive, Hamilton on April the 18th 2021 from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Those interested in registering can do so here.
Did you know that Hamilton Hotel, eponymously named after the prominent Hamilton family, became one of the earliest reference points in the area after they established it in 1865 and was instrumental in the naming of the suburb?
In 1865, solicitor Gustav Hamilton had his wooden homestead constructed, on the same site where the current hotel stands, as a meeting place for horse racing identities. Eventually, the Hamilton Hotel became the reference point of the district.
There weren’t a lot of buildings in the area during those days, thus the Hamilton Hotel stood out.
Mr Hamilton’s family was originally from Toowomba, according to a 1906 report. He and his family, however, would often visit the areas in the north bank of the Brisbane River thus he had this building made.
The white building at the back was Hamilton Hotel, circa 1912. Photo Credit: Lost Brisbane/Facebook
Coincidentally, one of the first lessees of the Hamilton Hotel, a Mrs Warren, was also married to another Mr Hamilton. Since most of the occupants of the hotel came from different Hamilton family branches, the family name gradually became the name of the whole district.
As the town progressed, aristocrats and clergy would call Hamilton their home. The suburb became well-known for its wealthy residents.
Gustav would eventually sell Hamilton Hotel after deciding to retire in Toowomba. A man named Sam Hamilton bought the place and capitalised on the hotel’s good name.
The Hamilton Hotel would change owners a few more times. Its previous operators were J.R. Ahern and his wife, and E.J. Stewart of the Stewart Hotels.
In the 1960s, the new owners, Castlemaine Perkins Ltd under a Mr and Mrs A. Cox, rebuilt the hotel into a modern two-storey building with a parking facility to accommodate 225 cars, the largest in any hotel in Queensland at that time.
The newly-renovated hotel had a private bar fronting Racecourse Road, which could accommodate 200 guests, along with a public bar fronting Kingsford Smith Drive, which could have 400 guests.
Hamilton Hotel also had eight cold rooms at the back and an additional three rooms with walls that can be dismantled for other uses. This made it easier for the hotel staff to serve bar guests refreshing drinks and good food.
All the self-contained rooms on the second floor, on the other hand, had their own toilet and bath, Hallstrom refrigerator, television, and telephone. There was also a built-in table in each room so that traveling businessmen can make their quarters their temporary office.
In the 1970s, Hamilton Hotel once again underwent renovations to include the Pioneer Grill Room, the Tally Ho Bar and the River Rooms fine dining area. Here, business seminars, birthday parties, and wedding celebrations were accommodated.
In 2015, Hamilton Hotel celebrated its 150th birthday. Today, the hotel remains popular for locals and tourists. It has kept with the times as a trendy venue offering four bars, a bistro, a restaurant, a child and gaming facility, and a couple of function rooms for elegant parties.
