Recently the Hotel Metropole on the corner of Waghorn & Brisbane Streets closed its doors. Hotels have stood on this site for over 150 years. Whilst the Metropole first opened in 1906, it was built on the site of the old Harp of Erin Hotel. The hotel was also known as the Silver Fern in earlier years of the 21st century.
Hotel Metropole, 253 Brisbane Street, Ipswich, 1991 – Image courtesy of Picture Ipswich
The Metropole was designed by George Brockwell Gill with public and private bars, dining room, parlour, coffee room, billiard room, shop, kitchen, 1 bedroom and offices on the ground floor. Upstairs there were 13 bedrooms, drawing room, sitting room and 3 bathrooms. A cellar and wash-house were in the basement. The building cost over £3000 including brickwork by John Mackenzie, plumbing & gas-fitting by John Cuthbert and joinery by Arthur Foote, to name a few of the contractors. The structure was up-to-date with indoor lavatories, electric bells, hot water service and gas lights. And there were many decorative architectural details incorporated, including a stained glass window.
Mr C. Roberts, employed earlier by T.W.Boody, intended to use the shop on the ground floor as a hair-dressing salon and tobacconist.
Hotel Metropole, front entrance, 253 Brisbane Street, Ipswich, 1991 – Image courtesy of Picture Ipswich
In October 1906 when it opened, the hotel provided accommodation for “man and beast” (there were stables) and alcoholic beverages for thirsty travellers and locals. Miss Fairley was the licensee. Various members of her family were licensees of the Harp of Erin Hotel from 1893 until its closure.
Whilst the Metropole is an attractive and substantial brick building the Harp of Erin was a wooden structure that was removed or demolished in late 1905 or early 1906 to make way for the new hotel. It had become somewhat run-down by the 1890s but survived in some form until the early 20th century. Despite its perhaps lack of grandeur the Harp of Erin was clearly a landmark in the town as early as 1861 when Bee-Hive Stores used its name and location to advertise their own clothing & groceries business situated opposite in Brisbane Street. John Moran was the licensee from 1861-1862.
During the 19th century, victualler’s licenses had to be applied for and renewed annually. This involved advertising your intentions to apply, renew or transfer in the local paper and attending the Licensing Court. An applicant had to have a good reputation in order to be successful in procuring a publican’s license for the sale of “fermented and spirituous liquors”. The Justices in the court and local police could be formidable in their opposition to applications. Licenses were often transferred and the Harp of Erin had several licensees between 1861 and 1900, including Robert McGrory from 1872-1887 and Gaius Frederick Brown from 1890-1893. It appears that holding a liquor license at this time in Ipswich was not always a licence to print money. In 1876 there were 23 hotels in town or about 1 pub for every 108 adults.
The Metropole also experienced its fair share of burglaries and fires. In 1925, 1932 and 1940 the hotel was damaged by fire. The latter fire caused significant damage estimated at £2000 which was a considerable sum in 1940. The earlier fires were chimney fires. Ironically, it seems that in December 1932 more damage was caused by water from the hose put up the chimney to douse the fire, than was caused by flames and smoke.
Panoramic view from railway line behind Brisbane Street, Ipswich, ca. 1987 – Image courtesy of Picture Ipswich
Information taken from:
Picture Ipswich
http://picture.ipswich.qld.gov.au/awweb/main.jsp
Queensland Times, Ipswich Herald and General Advertiser, 29 September 1906, p.14.
Queensland Times, Ipswich Herald and General Advertiser, 5 November 1861, p.2.
Queensland Times, Ipswich Herald and General Advertiser, 22 April 1876, p.4.
Queensland Times, Ipswich Herald and General Advertiser, 27 July 1865, p.1.
Queensland Times, Ipswich Herald and General Advertiser, 4 October 1906, p.11.
Queensland Times, Ipswich Herald and General Advertiser, 10 December 1895, p.3.
Telegraph (Brisbane, Qld), 20 March 1894, p.5.