Significance
Criterion AThe place is important in demonstrating the evolution or pattern of Queensland’s history.
The Port Office Hotel is significant for its contribution to the lower Edward Street streetscape in association with the Port Office, Naval Offices, Old Mineral House and Smellie's Building.
Criterion EThe place is important because of its aesthetic significance.
The Port Office Hotel is significant for its contribution to the lower Edward Street streetscape in association with the Port Office, Naval Offices, Old Mineral House and Smellie's Building.
History
The first hotel on this site was opened in May 1864 and was known as the Shamrock Hotel.
In late 1876 the Shamrock Hotel was reconstructed as a two storey masonry building with verandahs. It was designed by James Cowlishaw with Charles Midson the contractor.
In 1888 the remodelled hotel was described as being 'extremely commodious, containing (besides public and private bars and an attractive clubroom) fifteen bedrooms, a drawing room, two bath rooms and four public rooms on the ground floor'. The hotel was patronised by workers from nearby shipping and industrial and riverside businesses. With the change of licensee c. 1909, J C Cutbush renamed the hotel the Port Office Hotel.
In 1955 the hotel was refurbished under the direction of architect F L Cullen. This work included the removal of all the verandahs, lacework, canopies and chimneystacks and renovation of the interior fittings.
During the 1980's further internal renovations have been undertaken.
Description
The Port Office Hotel, located on the corner of Edward and Margaret Streets, is a two storeyed rendered brick building with a corrugated iron roof. The rendered brickwork is scribed to imitate stonework and has bays separated by rendered quoins while a number of the window openings have stone sills. A cantilevered awning dominates the street facades.
A separate store with a hipped roof, filling in the 'L' shape plan to create a rectangle, has been incorporated into the structure. A verandah has been added to the eastern back wall. Leadlight windows remain in some of the ground floor openings.
Internally some of the early timber doors, architraves, and skirtings survive but otherwise the majority including the stair has been altered in various refurbishments since the 1950s.
