Renovation of Queensland’s oldest licensed hotel unearths incredible heritage discovery, which will soon be on display!
AHS has been working on the State heritage listed Grand View Hotel in Cleveland, Queensland, as the historic pub is transformed as part of a $6 million renovation project.
Initial works at the Grand View Hotel uncovered some incredible historical features, most notably a well-preserved water well and cistern hidden beneath the concrete floor near the kitchen.
These discoveries offer clues about the hotel’s origins, and the early days of Cleveland itself, originally built in 1851! It remains one of Southeast Queensland’s earliest buildings. Celebrating the building’s history, the owners of the hotel intend to display the historic features, offering patrons a glimpse into the past.
The $6 million renovation aims to modernise the hotel, while celebrating its local heritage as one of the region’s most noteworthy buildings – originally built by Hon. Francis Edward Bigge, Member of the New South Wales Legislative Council.
Bigge was a grazier from Mount Brisbane Station, and one of the leading lobbyists in the push to recognise the Cleveland Port as the commercial capital for the region, investing heavily in development.
This building was originally dubbed Cleveland House, before being renamed Grandview Hotel in 1910, and is widely considered to be Queensland’s oldest licenced pub.
AHS have been undertaking archaeological monitoring to ensure that the cistern and any other potential archaeological features are being appropriately managed. We’re working closely with the Grand View Hotel operators and contractors to ensure these historical features are preserved and integrated into the renovated space, in a way that respects their significance while enhancing the experience of patrons.
We offer an ‘on call’ archaeological monitoring service to all our clients and can assist in a range of archaeological matters for both non-Indigenous and Indigenous cultural heritage, including the development of Archaeological Management Plans and undertaking excavations and test pitting.
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