Crown Hotel

The Deed of Grant for the land that the hotel is located upon was granted in April 1859 to Sarah Sophia Bartley, wife of Nehemiah Bartley well known Brisbane entrepreneur, author and eccentric. The land changed ownership a number of times before Charles Stott purchased a portion of the land in November 1881.Prior to Stott’s purchase the property was reputed to be a Cobb and Co staging place. Stott was issued with a liquor licence in March 1880 and at the same time as the purchase Stott took out a mortgage for £1500/0/0. 

At its meeting in January 1881 the Licensing Board refused Charles Stott’s application for a provisional licence “for a house proposed to be erected at Lutwyche, and to be called the Crown Hotel”1 largely, it appears, because he had not given appropriate notice for objections to be received. On 15 February that year, he gave notice of his intention to apply for a provisional licence for the sale of liquor in a brick house, containing four sitting-rooms and eight bedrooms, exclusive of those required by his family of a wife and five children.1 The Crown Hotel, designed by George W Wilson opened in October 1881. This house was proposed to be erected on his land at Lutwyche and kept as a public house under the sign of the Crown Hotel.1 The licence was granted and the hotel open in October 1881.1

The Brisbane Courier reported in 17 October 1881 that the Crown hotel, opened by Mr. Stott at Lutwyche was a “large and commodious two-story brick” [hotel] ‘in an excellent situation overlooking Breakfast Creek, the river, the Valley, and Bowen Terrace, with a picturesque view of mountain and forest from the front and back verandahs.’ Unlike existing country hotels, it was reported that in this case the architect, Mr. G. W. C. Wilson, had designed and handed over to the proprietor a building that compared favourably “with most city hotels” for the comfort and convenience of boarders.

There is a wide entrance hall and a large vestibule on the first floor landing. Two very large tanks have been sunk in the solid rock, and the supply of water will be practically inexhaustible. Down stairs there is the bar, parlour, and dining-room, with folding doors, so that accommodation can be provided for a large party. On the first floor there is drawing-room, ballroom, with ante-room, and a number of well furnished, lofty, and well ventilated bedrooms. At the back are good stables and other conveniences, and the proprietor in- tends to make provision for two or three popular outdoor games.1

In 1883 at the annual meeting of the Licensing Board the licence for the Crown Hotel was transferred from Charles Stott to C.W. Thomson.1 The licence changed hands frequently in 1884 from John Boyce, to James Broderick before going to John Rennison.

In February 1885 Simon Fraser & Son were instructed by the mortgagee to sell “all his Right, Title, and Interest in that splendid property known as the Crown Hotel and adjoining store, Lutwyche subject to the present lease and a first mortgage of £1500.”1 John McDermott, bought the property in July 1885 taking out an enormous mortgage for £4,200/0/0. McDermott was granted a licence in 1888-89 and leased the property to Leonard Bird in December 1889 for a term of 15 years. Bird transferred the lease to Perkins and Company Ltd and the Queensland Brewing Company in 1890, but in 1899 the lease was transferred to John McDermott.

McDermott leased the hotel Martha Bird until 1905 when the lease was transferred to Martha Kelly. After John McDermott’s death in 1908 the hotel passed into the hands of Martha Webb (a relative of McDermott) and William Quinn. The hotel was again leased to Castlemaine Brewery and Quinlan and Co.

The hotel became a social hub of the surrounding community. In 1886 the brickmakers of Lutwyche held a preliminary meeting to consider forming a society to enable them to adopt the “eight hour system”. Thirty three names were recorded in favour.1 In the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, the regular meetings of the “Pioneer of Lutwyche Lodge, no.22” Friendly Society were held in the Crown Hotel on Tuesday evenings. The report of the Registrar of Friendly Societies with reference to the A.O. Druids was read which showed a steady progress financially with one brother on the sick list, and sick pay was passed.1 The hotel also held an annual Christmas dinner which long-time resident Robert Thorrold, after whom the old suburb of Thorroldtown was originally named, fondly recalled at age 88 in 1913.1

The hotel was frequently utilised as a landmark in the district. Often it was the reference point for such events as local land sales. For example, in 1913 the “Lutwyche Heights Estate” was offered for sale at auction. Allotments were within one minute of the tram extension from Bowen Bridge to Kedron and situated within 200 yards (c.200m) of the Crown Hotel.1 A 1925 advertisement in the Catholic Age for the Crown Hotel proudly announced that the “Kedron Park trams stop at the door” and only the “best liquors kept.” 

In May 1933 extensive alterations and additions were made to the Crown Hotel. The brick additions, designed by Addison and Macdonald included a bar and bottle room of modern design and equipment, with tiled walls and counter front. The tender of Marbarete Co. was accepted for the work. Marbarete Co also carried out the architects’ work on the Transcontinental Hotel.1

In May 1940 application for a Leave of Absence to the Licensing Commission was granted to J.F & J.W Webb of the Crown Hotel, Lutwyche.1 Later that year plans and specifications for additions to the Crown Hotel owned by Joseph Francis Webb and licensee Martha Maria Webb were approved.1 Martha Maria Webb passed away on 2 January 1956 and the hotel was transferred to her family.

The hotel is located on a busy thoroughfare, providing excellent commercial opportunities for passing trade. Since the 1880s the hotel has been and is an important social centre and land mark in Lutwyche, and has continued to develop under the stewardship of the Webb family since 1908.

1. 'Licensing Meeting’ The Telegraph 11 January 1881, p.2; & Brisbane Courier 19 January 1881, p.3. trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper

2. The Telegraph 19 February 1881, p.1. trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper

3. Information from JOL SLQ 1881 image. The Brisbane Courier, 17 October 1881

4. The Brisbane Courier 12 October 1881, p.3. trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper

5. Brisbane Courier 17 October 1881, p.2. trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper

6. 'Annual Licensing Meeting’ The Brisbane Courier 18 April 1883, p.5. trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper

7. 'Auction Sales’ The Brisbane Courier 14 Feb 1885, p.7. http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/3439166

8. 'A Miserable Excuse’ The Brisbane Courier 2 Sept 1886, p.6 http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/4489495

9. 'Druids’ The Telegraph 14 Nov 1900, p.7. http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/172984455

10. 'An Old Queenslander: Mr Robert Thorrold’ The Queenslander 29 March 1913,p.8. http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/23330341

11. 'Lutwyche Heights estate’ The Brisbane Courier 20 September 2013, p14 http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/1990468

12. ‘Additions to Hotel’ The Brisbane Courier 5 May 1933,p.5. http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/22172676

13. 'Hotel Applications’ The Courier Mail 17 May 1940, p.19 http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/40930407

14. Additions to Hotels Approved’ The Telegraph 29 Nov 1940, p7 http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/184533283

15. Australian Dictionary of Biography. Vol 3, 1851-1890. pp. 112-113

16. Brisbane Centenary: Official Historical Souvenir. 1823-1923

17. Catholic Age. 1 August, 1925

18. Department of Natural Resources. Titles information

19. Donnelly, J.J. Hotels of Brisbane. Thesis c.1960

20. Norris, Merle (Compiler). Brisbane Hotels and Publicans Index: 1842-1900. Brisbane History Group. Sources No.6. 1993

21. Queensland Post Office Directories

22. Watson, Donald and Judith McKay. Queensland Architects of the 19th Century: A Biographical Dictionary. Brisbane: Queensland Museum, 1994