CELEBRATING
THIS SUNDAY JULY 17th FROM 12 NOON
105 YEARS Malanda Hotel makes history The iconic Malanda Hotel will celebrate 105 years in Malanda this Sunday. Below is the steep history of the largest timber hotel in Australia. PATRICK English was the first licensed victualler for the Malanda Hotel which was opened on Saturday July 8, 1911, in the grand ballroom. The following day saw the official opening of the railway and a special excursion train arrived. The train arrived at Malanda at 1.30pm, where ninety people travelled on the train and along with the locals from the area, it was a full house for the new hotel. On the September 6, 1911, two months after the opening, the license was transferred to Catherine English, Patrick's mother. The English family decided to move from the farm house on portion 39 to live at the hotel. The Malanda Hotel, now completely finished staged their official opening on Boxing Day 1911. The hotel was packed out and a sports meeting, including woodchops was held on Malanda's unmade street in front. At night, the balcony of the hotel was a dance floor. It was a huge event and everyone in the area attended. The hotel was a wooden building, with twelve bedrooms on the top floor, a bar section, dining room, store room, cellar and kitchen on the ground floor. Stables for the horses were provided at the back of the buildings. With the men in the English family busy working, much of the running of the hotel was left to Catherine and her two daughters Mary and Elizabeth, who
were very capable and managed the hotel with pride and dedication. In 1917 another section was added to the Malanda Hotel on the English Street side with the work being completed in 1920. This consisted of a further twenty two rooms on the top floor and six shops on the ground floor. A separate building was constructed as staff quarters. On March 29, 1922 the Malanda Hotel was sold to John (Jack) Hanrahan for 10,000 pounds and license transferred to him. Jack Hanrahan married Mary English in September 1922. Jack had arrived to the Atherton area in the early 1900's. Jack's cousin Robert McHugh built the Millaa Millaa Hotel and was an Eacham Shire councillor and chairman for many years. After selling the hotel, the English family moved to a new house on the hill above town and Mrs Catherine English died four years later in 1926. In 1928 the Hanrahan's extended the hotel along James Street with an extra dining room, second bar and a magnificent timber featured lounge/ball room with an elaborate staircase made of local cabinet timbers. Maple and oak were used extensively and local cabinet maker Wally Anderson was responsible for the panelling, staircase, an extra dining area and a second bar. The architect was Bob Hassel and builder Len Garvey. It consisted of 11
All day, every day, you’re better off at Bottemart.
bedrooms, ladies and gents bathrooms and toilets on the top floor. On the ground floor were the large lounge, dining room, and bar. Malanda now had the largest hotel to be built on the Tableland. The opening of the new extension was attended by a huge crowd, followed by a dinner, entertainment and dancing. In 1962 five hotel units were added to the James Street side and this complemented the hotel accommodation. The Hanrahan's had two children and the family lived at the hotel, Mrs Mary Hanrahan died 1947. Son Keith and his new wife Maureen took over the running of the hotel in 1949, but Jack continued being very involved with the business until his death in 1970. Jack Hanrahan lived to an old age, always active around the hotel and was known as ' the grand old man of Malanda'. Keith Hanrahan sold the hotel to Tom English in 1976 after it had been in the Hanrahan name for a period of 54 years. Keith Hanrahan and Tom English are both grandsons of James English who built the original hotel. Tom continued to operate the hotel with the same traditions which have become a landmark for Malanda. The Malanda Hotel is now leased by Tom's son Michael and grandson Jeff.
ABOVE: The grand opening of the Malanda Hotel in 1905 and the Hotel today.
Come and celebrate with us The Malanda Hotel invites the whole community to join in the 105th anniversary festivities from lunch time this Sunday. Interstate and local woodchoppers will compete in a five event program at 1pm. Plus there will be merry-go-rounds and face painting for the kids, a sizzling BBQ throughout the afternoon, as well as music during the day. From 1.30pm you can join in and test your skills in the Tom English singles pool competition. The Hotel will be open for dinner Sunday evening and patrons are encouraged to stay on and enjoy the night. A huge thank you must go to the sponsors who have contributed to the celebration of the 105th anniversary in Malanda, including: Malanda Meat Co, Gadgarra Sawmill, Malanda Raw Materials, Bull at a Gate Fencing and logging and the WW Group.
Close . . . u o y o t
ions t a l u t a r g n Co el t o H a d n a Mal on y ou r ! 105 Years
• Huge range of stock • Unbeatable weekly specials MALANDA HOTEL • 4096 5790 ENGLISH STREET, MALANDA
MALANDA BAKERY
Congratulates the Malanda Hotel on 105 years of history! • Fresh Bread and Rolls Baked Daily • Specialty Cakes & Birthday Cakes made on the premises • Spelt Bread & Gluten Free Bread available • Pies, Cakes, Pastries & Sandwiches • Cathering for Small Functions (Sandwiches & Cakes)
19 English St, Malanda • Ashley & Deborah Healy
Phone 4096 5295 • Fax 4096 6013
Phone / Fax: 4092 7591 DAILY COURIER SERVICE Adam & Kym Leask Tablelands - Cairns / Cairns - Tablelands
MALANDA NORTH Treasuring the past and helping to create the future.
Congratulations to the Malanda Pub on a long history... and best wishes for a long and fruitful future! Supported by Malanda North: Core Member of the Tropical North Queensland Sustainable Community Alliance, a collaboration of diverse sustainable community projects in North Queensland.
MALANDA NORTH
MALANDA
Congratulations to the Malanda Hotel on 105 years!
PHONE: 4096 5284 FAX: 4096 6136
TABLELAND DELIVERIES - PHONE 4096 5125 1 ENGLISH STREET, MALANDA
NOW OPEN SUNDAYS TILL 5PM
JUDGED BEST BY TASTE & TEST! www.theexpressnewspaper.com.au
Email: malanda@spar.com.au
2-10 English St, Malanda
TRADING HOURS: MONDAY TO FRIDAY 8AM - 6PM SATURDAY & SUNDAY 8AM - 5PM
Making y Everyda Better!
The Express, Wednesday, July 13, 2016 PAGE 11