The historic Lakes Creek Hotel of Rockhampton is coming back to life after years in the dark, under new, dedicated revivalist owners.
Established circa 1895, the pub is the second-oldest in town, after the nearby Criterion, which was built 1890. Boasting a design of the Victorian Gothic style, it found its way onto the Queensland State Heritage register.
But early 2018 the well-worn watering hole closed the doors, indefinitely. Its heritage status hampered action courtesy of a lot of rules for renovation back to operational standard.
In 2021 it was purchased by locals Josh Dillon and Sally Knight.
Although their first pub, the couple brought experience and a shared passion for renovating and reviving faded establishments with potential. They spent nearly a decade developing Yeppoon’s Capricorn Palms Holiday Village into a family holiday park, then sold it and bought Emerald Tourist Park late 2018.
Needing all new plumbing and electrical, the plans also entail 13 self-contained ensuited rooms to be available upstairs.
Date of the reopening has not been finalised, but the pair aim to return the Lakes Creek to its former glory. They say their main priority is to create a family hotel servicing Rockhampton and the immediate catchment, not a ‘karaoke bar’, but attracting tourism is certainly on the agenda too.
“It has served the community for 127 years and when we are finished it should serve it for another 127 … if we get it right,” bodes Dillon.
