Melbourne Hotel

London Tavern was an early pub in Ipswich that stood at the corner of Nicholas & Brisbane Streets from about the mid 1850s. The pub was owned by Martin Byrne and  reputed to have been purchased for £1/12-. Byrne owned several city buildings, including neighbouring properties in Brisbane Street.

Black Perry, a well known English pugilist was associated with the pub during the very early years. The Brick Store adjoined London Tavern.

London Tavern was re-named the Melbourne Hotel in about 1862 when Noah Raper became the publican. It appears that he may have been fond of the name, previously using it for another establishment in East Street. At this time the hotel was located across Nicholas Street from "Given's Corner" where Thomas Given had his jewellery and watchmaking business.

John Greenham purchased the building that included the Melbourne Hotel in about 1865. As he owned real estate from W. Tatham & Sons Stationery  (close by on Brisbane Street) to Isaac Ham's business in Nicholas Street, the location became known as Greenham's Corner. In the mid 20th century it would be known as Nolan's Corner.

Neighbouring businesses in the 1860s were the Post Office Hotel, J. P. O'Dea's tobacco shop, and E. W. Hargreaves' ironmongery. 

On Tuesday 16 April 1872 , the publican of the Melbourne Hotel John Devine, auctioned off his liquor license, pub fittings and household furniture. This seems to indicate the permanent demise of the Melbourne Hotel at the corner of Brisbane & Nicholas Streets.

Years later other businesses to trade on this corner include: T.  H.  Thomas’s Premier Hairdressing and Shaving Saloon, Thomas' Marble Bar, R. M. Williams, Nolan's Pharmacy, Harry Burke's Pharmacy, Adams Specialty Shop, and Nicholas Street Convenience.