The Brisbane Hotel had become an inner city hotel in decline – run-down, unattractive and unprofitable. Built in 1898, the hotel underwent an extensive renovation focussed on restoring the old and blending it with the new to bring the vast proportions and ambience of the old pub to life.

Traditional elements of the original hotel were reinterpreted and improved and new features added to create a new iconic place in the rebirth of an archetypal corner pub.

The renovation endeavoured to uncover as much of the original construction as possible, while still working within the framework of the many additions added throughout the years. Some of the work undertaken include:
• Removal of unoriginal internal walls, ceilings and finishes. The hotel was essentially gutted and opened-up to create a series of free-flowing spaces of varying themes.
• Recognition, by floor finish, of the location of any original walls where new openings were required.
• The creation of a new, rejuvenated and greatly increased courtyard to the “back” of the hotel.
• Reinstatement of existing doors and windows to the street facades.
• Reinstatement of the “corner bar” in a manner reminiscent of the original.
• Applying contemporary design treatments to new additions, including to the 1970s addition on Beaufort Street.
• Reinstating original openings in the façade with large expanses of tinted glazing where practicable to create vistas to both the park opposite and city skyline.