Commercial Hotel (Ipswich)

The first Commercial Hotel on this site was erected by William Henderson and opened in the second half of 1866 by William Trotter. It was a two storey brick construction.  The license for the pub was transferred from another Commercial Hotel situated in Bell Street to William Henderson.

Years later the railway authorities purchased the old hotel and other residences on the western side of Ellenborough Street in order to erect a new railway station in Darling Street and re-arrange  the railway goods shed. For these reasons the Commercial Hotel was demolished on Monday 3 April 1916 and a new timber hotel was built 1916-1917, designed by Will Haenke.  Nicholas Madden was the contractor. The new hotel opened on Saturday 29 September 1917 with 16 bedrooms on the first floor, bar and kitchen on the second floor, and laundry and more bedrooms on the third floor. There were also dining rooms, cellar, bathrooms and private sitting rooms provided. 

Oaks Ipswich Aspire Apartments, a modern multi-storey hotel & apartment complex, is now located next door to the Commercial Hotel.