The History of the Royal Hotel Queanbeyan

The history of the Royal Hotel Queanbeyan dates back to 1850, when Martin Byrne Senior established Byrne’s Hotel on the corner of Monaro and Crawford Streets.

Born in County Carlow, Ireland in 1815, Byrne arrived in Australia as a convict in 1839 before establishing himself as one of Queanbeyan’s early publicans. The beer was produced by Alfred Bradbury’s brewery locally, using water drawn from the Queanbeyan River – a detail that might surprise anyone familiar with the river today.

In 1870, the hotel took on the name Royal Hotel, and over the following decades, The Royal became an important gathering place for the growing town. It was more than somewhere to enjoy a drink or find accommodation. Election results were announced from the hotel, politicians addressed crowds from its balcony, and local families gathered for weddings and celebrations.

In March 1887, following his election to the New South Wales Parliament, local politician John Gale was welcomed back to Queanbeyan by cheering crowds at the Royal Hotel. After arriving by carriage, Gale made his way to the hotel’s balcony, where he was formally welcomed by members of the Borough Council. The balcony continued to play a role in local life as time went on. In 1915, Martin Byrne Junior made it available for military recruiting meetings during the First World War, while in 1919 it was used for another election celebration.

In 1890, Martin Byrne Jnr became the licensee of the Royal Hotel and renamed the hotel Byrne’s Royal Hotel. The Byrne family’s association with the Royal continued until October 1923 when Martin Byrne Junior sold to Robert John Milligan of Sydney for £16,000. Sadly only two months later on 2 December 1923 Robert John Milligan died to pneumonia at 48 years old.
The Milligan estate took ownership and sold on 12 September 1924 to C.J. Hall for £20,500; and in 1925 the property entered a new chapter.

• 1850: Martin Byrne Snr opens Byrnes Hotel.
• 1855: Martin Byrne Jnr is born in Byrnes Hotel.
• 1864: Martin Byrne Snr retired from business. Edwin Land Snr became licensee.
• 1870: Henry Cane became licensee. Henry Cane transferred the publican’s license held by him for the premises known as the Royal Hotel (previously the Doncaster) to Byrne’s Hotel, renamed the Royal Hotel.
  Edwin Land Snr purchased the Victoria Hotel.
• 1877: Philip Pooley married Henry Cane’s daughter Mary Ann Goulburn.
• 1878: Philip Pooley took over the publican’s and billiard license for the Royal Hotel from his father-in-law.
• 1890: 24 July, Philip Pooley transferred the publican’s licence to Martin Byrne Jnr.
  Philip Pooley took over the publican’s licence for the Globe Hotel, renamed Pooley’s Hotel.
• 1892: 21 March, Martin Byrne Snr dies at 77 years old due to a weakness of the heart.
• 1923: H. J. Richardson takes over the Commercial Hotel (now Tourist Hotel).
  October, Martin Byrne (jnr) sold Byrne’s Royal Hotel to Robert John Milligan for £16,000.
  2 December, Robert John Milligan dies at 48 years old due to pneumonia. The Milligan estate takes ownership.
• 1924: C. J. Hall bought the Royal Hotel off the Milligan estate for £20,500.

In May 1925, the Richardson family purchased the Royal Hotel, with William Charles Richardson and his son Hubert Jaeger Richardson setting about transforming the property. The original hotel, which had stood for approximately 75 years, was demolished in 1926 to make way for an ambitious new building.

Designed by architect W. Henry Lumley and constructed by Sydney builder E. A. Potts, the new Royal Hotel was built at a reported cost of more than £38,000, excluding furniture.

It was a considerable investment in Queanbeyan at a time when the neighbouring Federal Capital was beginning to take shape.The two-storey building was designed in the Italian Renaissance style, using Bowral blue-black bricks with contrasting Sydney red brickwork. Inside, guests were greeted by a Queensland maple staircase with silky oak detailing, decorative plaster ceilings and an impressive Palm Lounge.

The hotel featured 58 bedrooms, several bars and dining rooms, reading and writing rooms, a ladies’ afternoon tea room, and dedicated smoking and music rooms. It was also remarkably modern for its time. Hot and cold running water, electric lighting, steam heating, public telephones and even electric dumbwaiters were installed throughout the building. Its steam radiator heating system was reported to be the first of its kind in Queanbeyan.

The public bar, positioned on the corner of Monaro and Crawford Streets, was described as the third-largest in New South Wales.

When the building was completed in June 1927, it was praised for its design, facilities and attention to detail, and was considered one of the most up-to-date hotels outside Sydney.

• 1925: 19 May, W.C. Richardson bought freehold the Royal Hotel for £21,000. H.J Richardson became the licensee.October, H. J. Richardson sold the Commercial Hotel in order to manage the Royal Hotel.
• 1926: The Byrnes Royal Hotel was demolished and rebuilt for £38,000.

The official opening of the new Royal Hotel on Tuesday, 21 June 1927, was a significant occasion for Queanbeyan. Sydney’s Lord Mayor, John H. Mostyn, travelled to Queanbeyan to perform the opening ceremony, accompanied by distinguished guests, local councillors and businesspeople.

The celebrations took place in the hotel’s Palm Lounge, where two long tables were laid with refreshments for the assembled guests. Queanbeyan Mayor W. B. Freebody described the occasion as an important day for the town, praising the Richardson family’s decision to replace the original building with one of the finest hotels in the state.

The Lord Mayor was equally impressed, declaring the new Royal worthy of a city and comparing its accommodation to some of Sydney’s leading hotels. During the ceremony, he was presented with a gold key inscribed: Royal Hotel, Queanbeyan. 21/6/27. The key was used to formally open the hotel’s main entrance, while a commemorative brass plaque was unveiled on the staircase.

For the Richardson family, the opening marked the completion of an enormous undertaking. Hubert Richardson, affectionately known as ‘Richie’, acknowledged the challenges of the project but spoke proudly of what he and his family had achieved. The new Royal was not simply a replacement for the old hotel. It was a statement of confidence in Queanbeyan’s future.

• 1927: 21 June, Officially opened the Royal Hotel Queanbeyan by The Lord Mayor of Sydney.
• 1928: 19 November, W. C. Richardson transferred ownership to his son H. J. Richardson.23 November, W. C. Richardson dies at 65 years old suffering illness for nine weeks.
• 1936: March, H. J. Richardson transferred the publican’s licence to Francis Arthur Bullock.9 December, F. A. Bullock transferred the publican’s licence to John Richard McNee.

The decades that followed brought both challenges and changes to the Royal. In the early hours of 20 November 1942, a major fire broke out in the upstairs lounge, spreading rapidly through the roof and accommodation areas. Guests staying in the hotel’s 52 bedrooms were woken by the alarm and hurried into the street, some escaping via the crowded fire escape. Twelve rooms were destroyed, the roof suffered extensive damage, and the total loss was estimated at £10,000.

A second, smaller fire occurred in the billiard room in 1953, when a spark from an open fireplace was believed to have ignited a settee. Fortunately, the fire was contained before it could spread further. The Richardson family’s ownership came to an end in August 1963, when the freehold property was sold for £105,000 to Ramsey’s Hotels Pty Ltd.

Over the following years, the Royal underwent considerable changes. Motel accommodation was added behind the main building, while plans were developed to modernise the bars, lounges and dining facilities. By March 1969, extensive renovations had been completed, introducing updated interiors and a new era of hospitality at the Royal. The refurbished hotel featured the Monaro Bar, Farrer Bar and Federation Lounge, with contemporary furnishings, new dining facilities and a colour scheme that was very much of its time — pale yellow walls, olive-green tables, and carpets featuring shades of orange, olive and yellow.A newspaper report published on 28 March 1969 described the changes in considerable detail, right down to the new uniform selected by barmaid Betty Dyson, who chose orange fabric to match the lounge curtains.The Federation Lounge was also designed to accommodate weddings and private celebrations, with folding doors allowing the space to be separated from the adjoining bar.Former Queanbeyan schoolteachers Sheila Lawler and Ian Keatley were set to hold the first wedding reception in the newly renovated lounge, continuing a tradition of celebrations at the Royal that had already stretched back generations.

• 1941: 19 August, Martin Byrne Jnr dies at 85 years old due to heart failure.
• 1942: April, Mr. and Mrs. Richardson returned to Queanbeyan to take over the management of the Royal Hotel Queanbeyan.20 November, Fire upstairs at the Royal Hotel Queanbeyan at 3am causes damage estimated at £10,000.
• 1953: 1 September, A fire broke out in the billiard room of the Royal Hotel Queanbeyan. It is thought that a spark from the open fire set alight to a settee, which was completely destroyed. Flooring boards, floor coverings and electrical wirings were damaged.
• 1963: 6 August, Ramsey’s Hotel Pty. Ltd bought freehold the Royal Hotel Queanbeyan for £105,000.
• 1964: 22 August, Queanbeyan Council approved the construction of a motel behind the Royal Hotel in Monaro Street. Construction began immediately. The motel, together with alterations to the hotel’s saloon bar and offices, cost £45,000.
• 1967: May, Sugna Pty. Ltd bought the Royal Hotel Queanbeyan for $440,000.
• 1968: January, Renovations to remodel the saloon bar and lounge area were undertaken for $40,000. The renovations had the saloon bar open direct on to Monaro Street, while the main entrance to the hotel and lounge area was from Crawford Street.7 April, H. J. Richardson at 78 years old suffering failing health for some time.
• 1969: 25 March, Opening of the new Royal’s modern amenities.

By the 1980s, the Royal Hotel was firmly established as one of Queanbeyan’s most recognisable landmarks.In August 1985, the hotel was sold for $1.2 million to a company associated with restaurateur John Praxoulis, who had previously operated restaurants in Canberra. Praxoulis introduced a new focus on dining, including his well-known restaurant, Zorba’s. The restaurant became particularly popular for its charcoal-grilled steaks. In March 1989, a newspaper feature titled Reputation at Steak reported that Zorba’s was serving more than 700 steaks each week.Praxoulis was known for personally selecting and sampling the meat served at the restaurant, with grain-fed T-bones and porterhouse steaks among the favourites. For many locals, Zorba’s became another chapter in their memories of the Royal.

The property changed hands again in May 1994, selling at auction for $1.4 million, and continued operating as part of Queanbeyan’s hospitality scene into the new millennium.

• 1980: 28 November, The Queanbyean City Council gave approval for the block to be subdivided.
• 1985: 1 August, A Praxoulis family company, bought the Royal Hotel Queanbeyan for $1.2 million.
• 1994: 26 May, The Royal Hotel Queanbeyan was sold at auction for $1.4M.

In 2010, Anthony McDonald and business partner Peter Griffiths purchased the Royal Hotel Queanbeyan, and in 2014 Anthony and Sandy McDonald took sole ownership, beginning another significant period in the building’s history.

In 2012, the Royal began a major transformation, shedding its former reputation and re-establishing itself as a welcoming, family-friendly venue for the Queanbeyan community. This new chapter is reflected in the hotel’s logo, which proudly carries the words ‘Re-established 2012’.

Over the following six years, extensive renovations were undertaken downstairs, with particular attention given to restoring and reopening the hotel’s upper level as a functions space.

In 2018, the upstairs spaces reopened to the public, bringing new life to an important part of the historic building. Today, those spaces are known as The Upperhouse at the Royal Hotel Queanbeyan, home to weddings, private celebrations, corporate events and live entertainment.

The Royal continues to welcome locals and visitors for dining, drinks and entertainment, while remaining an important part of Queanbeyan’s social and architectural history.

• 2010: Anthony McDonald and Peter Griffiths purchased the Royal Hotel Queanbeyan.
• 2012: The downstairs bar, bistro and sports bar were renovated. A new logo was created for the Royal Hotel Queanbeyan.
• 2014: Anthony and Sandy McDonald took ownership of the Royal Hotel Queanbeyan.
• 2016: The upstairs area began renovations, removing all accommodation onsite to create event spaces.
• 2018: The renovations upstairs finished and The Upperhouse was opened for private event bookings.

On Saturday 27 June 2026, the Royal Hotel Queanbeyan celebrated its centenary with a black-tie Gala Ball, hosted by owners Anthony and Sandy McDonald. The date was deliberately chosen to recognise both 1926, when construction of the present building began, and 1927, when the new Royal officially opened its doors.

Executive Chef Wayne Alger created a special menu inspired by the hotel’s original opening celebrations, revisiting dishes and cooking techniques from a century ago. Guests enjoyed an evening of dining, dancing and live entertainment by Big Boss Groove, marking 100 years of the building that has become such a familiar part of Queanbeyan.

• 2026: 27 June, The Centennial Gala Ball commemorates the Royal Hotel Queanbeyan’s centenary celebration.

Few buildings in Queanbeyan have witnessed quite as much change as the Royal Hotel. From its beginnings as Byrne’s Hotel in 1850 to the opening of the present building in 1927, the Royal has seen the town grow and change around it.

Its balcony has hosted political speeches and election celebrations. Its rooms have welcomed travellers, families and wedding guests. Its bars and restaurants have changed with the times, and its walls have witnessed generations of Queanbeyan life.

For some, the Royal brings back memories of a particular bar, restaurant or night out. For others, it’s where they celebrated a wedding, attended a show or simply caught up with friends.

The building may have changed over the years, but its place in Queanbeyan’s history remains.More than 175 years after Byrne’s Hotel first opened its doors, the Royal’s story is still being written.