Hotel Grand Chancellor Townsville Explained

Hotel Grand Chancellor Townsville
Former Names:Hotel Townsville, Travelodge, Townsville International Hotel, Centra Townsville
Location:Townsville, Australia
Address:320 Flinders Street
Start Date:1975
Completion Date:1976
Owner:Hotel Grand Chancellor, Australia
Floor Count:23
References:[1]
Building Type:Hotel
Architectural Style:70's
Height:76m (249feet)

The Hotel Grand Chancellor Townsville, nicknamed the "Sugar Shaker" by the locals,[2] [3] [4] is currently the tallest building in Townsville, Australia, standing at 76m (249feet) tall.[1] The building is located in the central section of Flinders Street next to Townsville Bulletin Square.

History

The building was originally constructed in 1976 on the site of the famous old "Central Hotel" which was cleared in 1973.[5] The hotel has gone by a number of names. It was originally called the "Hotel Townsville".[6] It has also been known as the Centra Townsville and Townsville International Hotel, and around 2001 its name was changed from the "Centra" to Holiday Inn.[7] Townsville.

The building has become well known as a local landmark due to the fact that it looks like a giant sugar shaker.[8] [9] The odd shape of the building has been said to represent the importance of sugar to the Townsville port and area.[10] The sobriquet was derived from its similarity to the top of sugar dispensers on the tables at a Coles caffetteria that existed in the Townsville CBD from about the mid 1960s to perhaps the late 1980s. The dispensers were glass, bulbous in shape on a flattened base, with a screw on metal cap and cylindrical projecting spout in the centre, of smaller diameter than the cap. The spout was sliced away in section at about 45 degrees, much like the structure that sits atop of the building which is now known as the Sugar Shaker.

The most recent acquisition of the property took place in June 2016[11] with the building becoming the Hotel Grand Chancellor Townsville.

References

-19.2597°N 146.8171°W

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Emporis building ID 134927 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211030131254/https://www.emporis.com/buildings/134927 . dead . 30 October 2021 . Emporis.
  2. News: The sugar-shaker gets a shake-up. 20 February 2010. Townsville Bulletin. Andrew Strutton. 15 March 2010. (" 'It's also something we probably don't need to (alter), because people identify with the 'sugar-shaker' locally. 'It's as much a part of Townsville as it is a part of the Holiday Inn.'")
  3. News: Alice Springs on the Coast . Rosemary West . . 25 June 1993 . 15 March 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20091015031415/http://www.cairnsboats.com.au/cairns-boats-articles/1993/6/25/alice-springs-on-the-coast/ . 15 October 2009 . dead . ("More people might come if the mall were not dominated by a 20-storey motel tower. With its curved service block on top, it has been nicknamed the 'sugar shaker'".)
  4. News: Indigenous art commissioned for hotel makeover . Inspire (Indigenous Business Australia) . April 2009 . 15 March 2010. ("The Holiday Inn Townsville is a local landmark, one which the locals refer to as the "sugar shaker".")
  5. http://www.townsville.qld.gov.au/resources/4266.pdf A Cultural Plan for Townsville
  6. News: Everything Under The Sun for a Warm Queensland Welcome (advertisement) . . 17 March 1977 . 15 March 2010.
  7. Kruger, Natalie & Llewellyn, Marc. Frommer's Australia 2002 p.303 (2002) ("Until last year it was the Centra but despite the name change remains part of the Bass Hotels group")
  8. http://www.townsville-queensland.com.au/townsville-accommodation.html Townsville Accommodation
  9. Llewellyn, Marc & Mylne, Lee. Frommer's Australia 2004 p.310 (2003) ("The 'Sugar Shaker' (you'll know why when you see it) has been Townsville's favorite hotel for years... Right on the Flinders Mall")
  10. Hofmeister, Burkhard. Australia and its urban centres (1988) ("At the corner of Flinders and Stokes Streets the tower of the TownsvilleInternational Hotel was erected, its nickname being the 'sugar shaker' because of its peculiar shape symbolizing the economic importance of sugar for the area and for the port")
  11. Web site: Sugar shaker sold. 2016-06-17. 2016-09-26.

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