Hotel Grande

Commissioned by George Thorn in 1864, the Grand Hotel was originally built as a small terrace facing East Street which housed three two storey shops on the corner of East and Brisbane Streets. Each shop had its own internal staircase which led to an upper floor living space with its own fireplace and chimney. After the death of George Thorn, the shops went to auction and were bought by T. B. Cribb.

In 1909 the new owner, Mr. H. E. Hall, asked local architect Will Haenke of Nicholas Street, to convert the terrace to a hotel. The contractors were Messrs. Perry & Betts. The building was extended alongside Brisbane Street adding a dining room. The Grand Hotel opened for business April 1910 with M.r  E. A. Everingham as the publican. On the East Street side was Mr B. Simmonds's billiard room which connected to the bar.There were 13 bedrooms. 

Improvements were made between 1925 and 1927 by architect George Brockwell Gill and Messrs. Hastie and Halliwell, builders. The large verandah was widened and interior painted.  A three storied brick addition was erected at the back of the hotel with a corridor connecting the new and old buildings. The public and private bars were refurbished. The upper floors were divided into well-lighted lounges, bedrooms and sundry offices and a fernery was added to the first floor. The hotel was renamed “Hotel Grande” after receiving permission from the Licensing Court in November 1927. The new hotel became very popular in the Ipswich community with functions being held in its large dining and lounge rooms. T. U. Smith conducted his mechanics business from an unused portion of the hotel land on East Street.

In 1928 Nora and Henry Nelson who owned the freehold hotel sold the lease for 10 years to Beatrice Amelia Bell and family. 

The Ipswich Gospel Hall was located beside The Grande in the 1920s.

The Hotel Grande was demolished on Sunday 4 November 1984. The following year a new shopping plaza was opened and named in honor of the old hotel - the Ipswich Grande Plaza.