Exchange Hotel, Laidley

The Exchange Hotel is a two-story brick building with a T-shaped floor plan located on Patrick Street in Laidley, distinguished by its Flemish bond brickwork and wide overhanging eaves. The ground floor contains hallways connecting to dining areas and a public bar, while the upper floor provides guest rooms and residential spaces.

The building was constructed in 1902 by architects Eaton & Bates for publicans Julius and Hansine Jocumsen, replacing an earlier wooden hotel dating from 1876. After completion, the ground floor rooms were shared with the Royal Bank of Queensland for its offices until the mid-twentieth century.

The building has functioned as a social hub where locals gathered for meals and conversation, serving as a meeting point that connected people across the town. Its layout and facilities were designed to accommodate both temporary guests and regular community visitors.

The building is accessed from Patrick Street where its wide overhanging eaves provide shelter and aid in finding the entrance. The clear division between public areas on the ground floor and private quarters upstairs makes the layout straightforward to navigate.

The building served a dual purpose early in its history, with a bank occupying offices on the ground floor alongside the hotel operations. This unusual combination of lodging and financial services in a single structure reflected the practical approach to business in a growing regional town.