City View Hotel, historic site in Queensland, Australia
City View Hotel is a two-storey brick building completed in 1908 in Ipswich, positioned at a busy street corner with distinctive architectural features. It has a corrugated iron roof, traditional verandas on both levels, and an octagonal tower on its eastern side that was designed to address the triangular shape of the site.
The building was designed in 1908 by renowned architect George Brockwell Gill to address a difficult triangular site next to a railway cut made in 1875. In the 1980s, restoration work was completed including repainting and adding a beer garden, while the hotel gained heritage listing on the Queensland Heritage Register in 1992.
The hotel takes its name from its position near Ipswich's central business area and served as a gathering place for travelers and locals. Over the years, it functioned as a social hub where people met, celebrated, and shared stories from daily life.
The hotel sits at a prominent street corner in central Ipswich, making it easy to locate when navigating the town. The verandas on both levels provide viewpoints for observing street activity, while the interior now offers rooms and function spaces for visitors.
The octagonal tower was intentionally placed at the sharpest corner of the triangular site to conceal the awkward shape and create an appealing street presence. This clever design solution by architect Gill demonstrates how early 20th-century buildings adapted to difficult topographical constraints.
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