Empire Hotel

As one of a swag of grand ornate hotels that came to represent the unique Queensland 19th century style, the Empire was constructed in the boom times of the late 1880’s. Along with its Valley cohorts the Prince Consort (today the Elephant and Wheelbarrow), the Wickham and the Jubilee Hotel, all were designed by eponymous architect Richard Gailey.

The hotel was refurbished in 1925 under the plans of Gailey’s architect son Richard Junior (who was also responsible for the Brisbane Arcade) and again in 1937 by Hall and Phillips. The entry foyer still retains the art deco features – tiled walls, ornate plaster ceilings, wooden doors with etched glass panels, patterned floors and a 1930’s lift - of this inter war period and the top one-time accommodation floor still has bedrooms and bathrooms laid out around a central corridor although the apartment wing which once lay along Ann St has been demolished.