Babinda Hotel, historic site in Queensland, Australia
Babinda Hotel is a two-story timber structure with corrugated iron roof located on Munro Street in Queensland. The ground floor contains two bars, a dining room, and game rooms, while upstairs guest quarters open onto a wide veranda overlooking the main street.
The hotel was constructed by the Queensland Government between 1916 and 1917 to support the growing sugar farming community in Babinda. The government sold it in the 1930s to stop financial losses, after which a Brisbane owner took over and renamed it.
The name derives from an Aboriginal word meaning waterfall or rain, reflecting the region's geography. The hotel served as a social center where diverse immigrant communities, including Italian, Danish, Greek, and Asian workers, gathered and built local traditions together.
The hotel sits prominently on the main street with open verandas providing shade during warm weather. It serves as a convenient stop for visitors exploring nearby rainforest and waterfalls, offering accommodation and simple food in a historic setting.
The hotel features one of the region's longest bars, a feature stemming from its role as a government-controlled establishment during a period of strict liquor regulation. Prime Ministers Billy Hughes and Stanley Bruce were welcomed as guests, highlighting its status as a gathering place for leaders.
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