User:BGH Architects/sandbox

The Bellevue Hotel, Brisbane, was built in 1885-6 on the corner of George and Alice Streets. It was built on a prominent site, with Parliament House on one side and the Queensland Club on the other and commanded magnificent views of the Botanic Gardens. F F Holmes was the original architect and the build was contracted to Mr Cornelius Ryan.

The site was previously occupied by two buildings. The Belle Vue (1859) was a small private school (owned by Miss Lester) which was replaced by Hanson’s Bellevue Hotel a few years later. Mr S M Collins gained ownership of this hotel and with licensee Mr John A Zahel, it prospered. It was decided that the patrons that frequented the hotel required a higher class of accommodation and so in 1885 it was decided to build a new hotel.

The Bellevue Hotel was three stories in height, with wrap around verandas on two stories which featured beautiful filigree cast-iron work. It was a great example of colonial architecture. The veranda is covered with a curved corrugated iron roof, while the main body of the building has a steep pitched roof with two mansard roofs (no doubt a reference to the parliament house) with cast iron cresting and chimneys.

In 1933 major alterations and remodelling were undertaken. These were executed by the builder Mr E Dymond under the supervision of well known Brisbane architect Lange L Powell. These included an extension, a complete remodelling of the bar and office as well as the renovation of all the rooms. As well as this, a refrigeration plant and cold room were to be installed.

Lange Powell’s influence on the alterations were minimised due to the nature of the work, with a reverence to the initial design upheld. By examining photographs of the hotel in 1903 and 1940 it can be seen that the exterior appearance is almost unchanged. This was not unusual for Powell however, as over his career, he shows an adaptable style, with works in the classical, gothic and federation styles. Indeed over this period, especially from the late 1920s to the mid 1930s, Powell took his hand to more commercial styles of builds, with banks the most prolific type..

During its 80 years it became known as Brisbane’s premiere hotel. It was described as ‘Favoured by politicians, graziers, actors and sportsmen, it oozed opulence’.. There was wide admiration for the hotel, with a hot water tap in every room, as well as an electric bell for summoning staff.. The Bellevue Hotel had hosted overseas visitors including the English cricket team,. Frank Sinatra, Katharine Hepburn, Nat 'King' Cole and Louis Armstrong. However, despite its iconic status, it was demolished on the 20th April 1979, by the order of Premier Joh Bjelke-Petersen.

In its later years, the building fell into disrepair and its verandas, along with its feature iron work, were deemed unsafe by the Queensland Governement. A report claimed that it would cost $2,000,000 to restore the building, while only $40,000 to demolish it. On the 17th April, 1979, parliament passed it demolishment and on the 20th April it was “hastily and unceremoniously demolished” by the Deen Bros. The destruction of the hotel began in the night, lending further to the opinion of the public that the way the whole affair was managed was rather sneaky and backhanded. The iconic Brisbane hotel’s destruction brought about large public backlash, with many supporting that the hotel should have been saved.. George Adman, a former owner of the Bellevue Hotel, described its destruction as deceitful and that the event left a feeling of sadness and horror. The site now has a small park, with a plaque dedicated to the Bellevue Hotel.