Queen's Hotel, Townsville

Queen's Hotel is a two-story building with ornate Art Nouveau architecture featuring turrets, open loggias, broad eaves, and decorative render panels. The structure holds a prominent place on the Strand and displays the craftsmanship quality from the period of its reconstruction.

The building was originally built in 1872 as a timber structure and underwent major reconstruction from 1902 to 1920 with a new stone facade. During World War II, the site served as an officers' club for American military personnel stationed in the Pacific region.

The hotel served as a meeting place for traveling merchants and business representatives visiting Townsville over many decades. Its location on the busy Strand made it a natural stop for visitors exploring the city.

The building currently houses television studios and office spaces and is not accessible to visitors as a museum or exhibition site. You can view and photograph the architectural details from the street and see the facade from various angles along the Strand.

The hotel was the first establishment in Townsville in 1872 to connect to municipal water and gas supplies. These connections were quite advanced for the time and reflected the building's status and importance in the growing city.