Since 1884: Commercial Hotel’s special place in Nambour’s history

The Commercial Hotel in Currie Street about 1917. For 139 years, the Hotel has served the people of Nambour.

History courtesy Nambour Museum

The Commercial Hotel was Nambour’s first hotel built in 1884 on Showgrounds Hill by Mathew Carroll.  

Walter Lanham described Carroll’s Petrie Creek or Tullababa Hotel. 

“It was sixty feet long and twenty feet wide and was built of sawn timber.  It was the only place large enough for dances, or sprees as they were called.” 

In 1885, a Receiving Office was established there where mail was left to be collected by a horseback rider and also dropped off on his return.

In 1892, the licence was transferred to Mathew Carroll jnr for the New Petrie Creek Hotel which had been built in 1890 on the site of today’s Commercial Hotel. 

The old hotel buildings were used for short periods as offices for the Maroochy Divisional Board and as a school classroom.

After the purchase by John Currie, Currie’s Nambour Hotel was described as “a two story double-verandah building containing 18 rooms.” 

There were other name changes until A. L. Kelly renamed the premises, the Commercial Hotel.

The building had to be rebuilt three times after disastrous fires in 1914 (sadly with the loss of a life), 1924 and 1966.

For 139 years, the Commercial Hotel has served the people of Nambour, providing accommodation for schoolteachers, a meeting room for charities and sporting club meetings, farewells and parties, temporary premises for visiting tailors, optometrists and other businessmen. 

It has played an important role in Nambour’s history.