Great Northern Hotel, Townsville

The Great Northern Hotel is a heritage-listed two-story brick building located at 500 Flinders Street in Townsville's central business district. It features wide verandahs with cast-iron railings, classical design elements, and original timber features throughout its interior spaces.

The building was constructed between 1900 and 1901 by Wilson Hart & Company, shortly after the announcement of a new railway terminus spurred the city's development. Its completion marked a key moment in Townsville's growth as a regional trading and transport hub.

The hotel has served as a central meeting point in Townsville since opening, reflecting architectural traditions that define Queensland's colonial period. Its wide verandahs with cast-iron railings shape how people experience the space and connect with the building's role in daily community life.

Visitors can stroll on wide verandahs with views and explore preserved dining and hallway spaces with original timber details. If staying overnight, rooms open directly onto these traditional verandahs, providing good spots for resting and watching daily activity.

The interior preserves carefully maintained details such as timber dado paneling in the foyer and leadlight glass windows that give character to the spaces. Bedrooms retain original tongue and groove boarding, showing how rooms were finished during that era.

Location: Queensland

GPS coordinates: -19.26300,146.81470

Latest update: December 14, 2025 14:20