Jets Club (former Hotel Cecil), North Ipswich

The Unity Hotel

The Unity Hotel stood on this site from 1880 to 1886-87. There were a few licensees, however William Frederick Larter was the first in 1880. In the mid 1860s Larter had opened and obtained a license for a public-house in Lowry Street called the White Swan Hotel which was situated on the same site as Barbat's foundry was in later days. This license was transferred to the Unity Hotel.

In 1887 a new hotel would stand on this spot named the Imperial Hotel.

The Imperial Hotel

When the Imperial Hotel opened in 1887 it was considered to be the largest and most elegant hotel in the area. Designed by F.D.G. Stanley, the hotel had 2 storeys with 9 bedrooms upstairs, plus sitting and drawing rooms. Downstairs was the bar, coffee room, kitchen and dining room plus 2 small parlours. There were two shops adjoining the coffee room, one of these was used by W.A. Hopkinson, saddler. James Cooper was licensee of the hotel.

Despite being a new hotel, the Imperial lost its liquor license in April 1891 due to an administrative decision in compliance with new regulations regarding the number of hotels operating in the vicinity. Strangely however, just a few months afterwards in July 1891 a new license was granted for the National Workmen's Club to be conducted from the same premises. 

Hotel Cecil

In 1904 the hotel became the Hotel Cecil, a beautiful rendered masonry building with leadlights fronting Downs Street, on the corner of Lowry Street at North Ipswich. In the early 20th century (ca.1901) the Queensland Ambulance Service was located beside the Cecil on Downs Street.

Ipswich solicitors Leon Rose and Craig Jensen bought the pub from Carlton & United Breweries in late 1986/early 1987, together with Paul Pisasale who would later become Mayor of Ipswich. 

In 1992 the building was extensively renovated and that year was listed on the Queensland Heritage Register. 

Jets Club

In 1998, the famous Cecil ceased trading as an hotel and became the Jets Club. The Ipswich Jets Rugby League Club was formed in 1982 and in 1998 they acquired the Hotel Cecil at 15 Downs Street, North Ipswich to be used as a licensed venue called the Jets Club. The next year they expanded the venue along Lowry Street frontage.