Major redevelopment of Toowoomba hotel before council
OWNERS of the Blue Mountain Hotel in Toowoomba are planning a major redevelopment that will include a new sports bar, terrace and expanded gaming lounge.
The redevelopment will be considered by Toowoomba Regional Council's development assessment panel on Thursday.
In the development application to council, owners of the Blue Mountains Hotel state that any works would "complement the historic character of the building".
If the development is approved, demolition activities will include:
- Demolition of drive through BWS bottle shop attached to the front of the building;
- Demolition of non-heritage internal elements including restrooms, designated outdoor smoking area, sports
- bar, gaming lounge and Level 1 balcony enclosure;
- Removal of existing pavement surface and loading area; and
- Removal of one of the existing three driveways.
Construction and refurbishment activities
- New sports bar and terrace;
- New designated outdoor smoking area;
- Expanded and refitted gaming lounge;
- New restroom facilities;
- Reinstate front verandah;
- Reinstate open Level 1 balcony;
- Modified northern and southern driveways, modified loading bay and associated vehicle pavement works;
- New car park, pedestrian crossing and road pavement adjacent to existing car park;
- Landscaping works;
- New roofing over new sports bar and terrace, reinstated verandah, designated outdoor smoking areas and
- gaming lounge entrance.
The historic hotel, located on the New England Hwy in Harlaxton, was just a timber building when it was opened by Mr J Holmes in 1888.
It was called the Blue Mountain Hotel and was located at what was then known as Ballards Camp, which was a railway construction workers camp originating with the 1865 railway construction from Ipswich.
Source: The Toowoomba Chronicle, July 28th 2015
Originally published as: Major redevelopment of Toowoomba hotel before council
