Barrier Reef Hotel, Heritage hotel in Cairns, Australia
The Barrier Reef Hotel is a heritage-protected two-story structure made of reinforced concrete at the corner of Abbott and Wharf Streets. It features dark timber floors and a corrugated metal roof that catches the tropical light.
The building was erected in 1926 to replace an older Empire Hotel from 1898 that no longer met the needs of the growing city. This new construction came during a time when Cairns was expanding rapidly and needed larger facilities.
The hotel takes its name from the famous reef that defines the region and sits at a corner where locals and visitors naturally cross paths. The location shows how the city grew from a small trading post into a modern center.
The hotel sits near the waterfront and is easily walkable from the city center. The building is protected by heritage rules, so the external appearance cannot be changed.
During World War II, the Australian Air Force used parts of the building as a command post between 1943 and 1945. This repurposing shows how buildings had to adapt to extraordinary times.
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