People's Palace, Brisbane, Heritage hotel in Brisbane CBD, Australia
The People's Palace is a hotel in Brisbane CBD featuring red brick walls and cast-iron decorations in Federation-era style. The four-story building contains pressed metal ceilings, a historic lift, and was designed with 130 rooms for working-class travelers.
The Salvation Army opened the building in 1911 as Queensland's first temperance hotel near Central Railway Station. The project emerged from the movement's strong commitment against alcohol consumption and set new standards for purpose-built accommodations at the time.
The building embodies the temperance movement's influence in Queensland society, where the Salvation Army created a space for travelers seeking an alcohol-free and gambling-free environment. The rooms and their finishes reflect this moral orientation that attracted many people at the time.
The building at the corner of Ann and Edward Streets is easy to find and sits next to the historic railway station. Visitors can view the original architecture and interior, but should check ahead as it now functions as office space.
The hotel roof featured a garden where 200 people could dine and enjoy an elevated dining space. This innovative amenity was unusual for Australian hotels in the early 1900s.
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