Queen's Arms Hotel

The name follows the general patriotic and military style so evident during the c19th within Brisbane. This is exampled in other hotels such as the "Queens Head", "Foresters' Arms" and "Volunteer Arms".

The hotel is located upon two allotments. The primary allotment, lot 22, which was purchased by Margaret Gaffney, "widow", in December 1879 and was some 36 perches in size. And part of the adjacent allotment 23, which was acquired quite late in the existence of the hotel, in February 1971 by the then owners of the hotel. 

Allotment 23 had a previous link to the hotel, as it was owned by a lessee of the hotel, John William Massie. While Massie was only the licensed victualler of the Queen's Arms for the period 1882-84, he retained ownership of the allotment and subsequently subdivided the block in c1912. The allotment closest to the hotel was placed in the name of presumably a relative, Mary Massie, "Spinster". The c1927 Detail Plan discloses a dwelling of worker's cottage proportions existent on the site, with a gate opening out onto the hotel property.

Richard Gailey called a tender in September 1883, with tenders closing 1 October in the same year, for "the erection of an hotel at the intersection of James and Stratton Streets".  Construction would have commenced in 1883 and completion would have most likely occurred in 1884.

At the time of construction of the hotel Margaret Gaffney was the proprietress of the "Dunmore Arms Hotel" in George Street. Margaret Gaffney along with her husband Peter (who died in January 1879) were the licensed victuallers of the "Dunmore arms" for the period between 1873-1887. (Peter 1873-79 and Margaret 1879-87). At the time of her death  (19 November 1919) Margaret Gaffney's address was described as being late of Toowoomba and she retained ownership of the property until her death, where upon it passed onto members of her family.

A bill of mortgage on the title was registered on January 1886 to the licensee Francis W.Beech. The terms were where mainly those of a lease, listing price per year to be paid, for seven years. In July 1886 the only "lease" was transferred to the Queensland Brewing Company, while Margaret Gaffeny retained ownership.

Queensland Brewing (also known as Bulimba Brewing) commenced operations in Florence Street Teneriffe in c1882 and they were eventually acquired by Carlton United Brewing in c1961. The involvement of a brewery in a hotel (a relatively new hotel would have been more desirable) was an accepted business practice for the brewing industry as this provided a means of controlling and ensuring retail outlet. For example, leading businessman and politician George Wilkie Gray, through his new company Castlemaine Brewery and Quinlan Gray & Co, had gained control of the lease of The Royal Exchange hotel at Toowong. 

While the hotel had a number of lessees over the years the property remained in the Gaffney family until the 1950s. A later notable lessee was well-known and often controversial national and international rugby league player Arthur Beetson OAM. Since then the property has had a number of owners. 

As with most commercial premises that serve the public alterations have also occurred to the building. BCC records indicate applications were made during the following years; 1953,1954,1959, 1961 and in 1962 for alterations.

As mentioned above Richard Gailey was the architect of the hotel. Gailey, an architect, businessman and philanthropist, commenced practice in c1865 and is reputed to have sustained the longest "and most productive practice of any Brisbane private architect."1 During the 1880s Gailey designed a number of important and impressive hotels in Brisbane which reflected the booming economy of the time.  These include the Regatta (1886), the Prince Consort (1887), the Wickham (1885) and the Empire (1889). 

Hotels, during the latter part of the c19th and mid-late c20th have been important social and leisure centres and meeting places, for many communities. The number of hotels in the City, Fortitude Valley and New Farm areas increased as prosperity, exampled in the building boom of the 1880s, grew during this period. The Queen's Arms Hotel is an example of the establishment of a hotel which was selectively located within an inner city area, which bounded industry, where the clientele, which comprised of predominantly of blue collar workers, would ensure a steady and profitable income flow.

A flat suspended awning wraps around the two street frontages, but French doors to the upper floor suggest that they originally opened onto a first floor balcony over a post-supported awning.

Several extensions have been carried out to the hotel, but the original form is clearly evident on the corner site.

1. Donald Watson, & Judith McKay. Queensland Architects of the 19th Century: A Biographical Dictionary. (Brisbane. Queensland Museum. 1994). p 72

2. Brisbane City Council Building Card Records

3. Brisbane City Council Detail Plan. No: 199

4. Certificates of Title.

5. Fortitude Valley Character and Heritage Study. Vol.2. (Heritage Unit, Brisbane City Council. 1995)

6. Heritage Unit Files: Carlton Brewery

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

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