Mercure Hotel Canberra
35°16′33″S 149°08′34″E / 35.27583°S 149.14278°E / -35.27583; 149.14278
Mercure Hotel Canberra, historically known as the Hotel Ainslie and Olims is a historic, four star hotel located in the inner Canberra suburb of Braddon, Australian Capital Territory. It is the closest major hotel to the Australian War Memorial and is located on Limestone Avenue. The Hotel Ainslie has been listed on the Australian Institute of Architects' Register of Significant Twentieth Century Architecture since 1984 due to its significance as a rare late example of English Arts and Crafts architecture[1] and was previously listed in the now defunct Register of the National Estate.[2] It is listed on the ACT Heritage Register.[3]
History
The building now occupied by the hotel was built between 1926-27 as one of eight hostels designed to provide accommodation for public servants in preparation of relocating the Parliament from Melbourne to the new national capital.[4] Following the adverse impact of the Great Depression in 1932, a liquor license was granted to building lessee Ernest Spendlove.[5] The building was renovated and shortly thereafter re-opened as a public hotel.
Spendlove sold the hotel in 1950 to Rex Investments, a division of the LJ Hooker, and the name was changed to the Hotel Ainslie Rex.[6][7] Another change of ownership saw the hotel renamed "Olims" in 1989, a name which remains in common use locally. Prior to the sale, an 87-room extension was completed in 1987 and the bar and restaurant areas were remodeled.[8] The hotel began market itself as a function centre, opening conference rooms. The beer garden was built in a distinctively more modern architectural style, disrupting the building's façade facing Limestone Avenue.[4]
In 2011, the hotel was rebranded by operator Accor Hotels as Mercure Canberra and underwent a $8 million refurbishment, hoping to draw more International guests.[9] A proposal which would have seen an extra 125 rooms added to the hotel encountered strong opposition from the National Trust of Australia due to the impact of the proposal on the building's aesthetics and heritage significance. The proposal was subsequently scaled back.[10]
Events and charitable fundraising
The Canberra Craft Beer Festival has been held annually at the hotel since 2008.[11] Mercure Canberra participates in Room for Hope, a program which allows guests to donate $1 in addition to the room rate to charitable causes.[12]
References
- ^ "Register of Significant Twentieth Century Architecture" (PDF). Australian Institute of Architects. April 1990.
- ^ "Register of the National Estate". Department of the Environment (Australia). Retrieved 1 February 2012.
- ^ "20089. Hotel Ainslie (Entry to the ACT Heritage Register)" (PDF). ACT Heritage Council. Retrieved 17 March 2014.
- ^ a b Australian Heritage Database. "Place Details". Department of the Environment (Australia). Retrieved 31 January 2014.
- ^ The Canberra Times (19 October 1932). "Liquour licence in December 1". National Library of Australia.
- ^ Gugler, Ann. "Alphabetical List of Accommodation for Single People With Emphasis on the 1930s to 1960s" (PDF). Canberra Camps, Settlements & Early Housing. Retrieved 1 February 2014.
- ^ Roberts M, 22 November 2014. The Rex Hotels. Time Gents: Australian Pub Project. Retrieved 7 December 2017.
- ^ "Mercure Canberra - Our History". Mecure Canberra. Retrieved 31 January 2014.
- ^ "Canberra's grand dame eyes international market under Accor brand". Hospitality Magazine. 11 October 2011. Archived from the original on 1 February 2014. Retrieved 31 January 2014.
- ^ Anderson, Stephanie (14 August 2011). "Fears extension will dwarf heritage hotel". The Sydney Morning Herald.
- ^ "Canberra Craft Beer Festival". eventfinder.com.au. Retrieved 1 February 2004.
- ^ "Quick Updates". Royal Far West. Archived from the original on 3 February 2014. Retrieved 1 February 2014.
- v
- t
- e
and structures
- ACT Heritage Library
- ACT Memorial
- All Saints Church
- Australian Army Memorial
- Australia Forum
- Australian Merchant Navy Memorial
- Australian War Memorial
- Australian–American Memorial
- Basser Library
- Big Coins
- Black Mountain Tower
- Captain James Cook Memorial
- Centenary House
- Edmund Barton Building
- Gus's
- High Court of Australia Building
- Hotel Canberra
- Hotel Kurrajong
- Korean War Memorial
- Legislative Assembly Building
- The Lodge
- Lovett Tower
- Mercure Hotel
- Mount Stromlo Observatory
- National Carillon
- National Gallery of Australia Research Library
- Old Parliament House
- Owl sculpture
- Parliament House
- QT Canberra
- Royal Australian Mint
- St John the Baptist Church
- Scrivener Dam
- Supreme Court
- Tilley's
- Yarralumla
- Yarralumla brickworks
- John Gorton Building
open spaces
- Australian National Botanic Gardens
- Black Mountain Peninsula
- Canberra Nature Park
- Canberra Peace Park
- City Hill
- Cockington Green Gardens
- Commonwealth Park
- Commonwealth Place
- Constitution Place
- Corroboree Park
- Glebe Park
- Haig Park
- Kings Park
- Lennox Gardens
- Lindsay Pryor National Arboretum
- Magna Carta Place
- Mulligans Flat Nature Reserve
- National Arboretum Canberra
- National Rose Garden
- Telopea Park
- Weston Park
- Yarramundi Reach
institutions
- Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies
- Australian Institute of Anatomy
- Australian National University Classics Museum
- Blundells Cottage
- Cameron Offices, Belconnen
- Canberra Glassworks
- Canberra Museum and Gallery
- Canberra Railway Museum
- National Archives of Australia
- National Film & Sound Archive
- National Gallery of Australia
- National Library of Australia
- National Museum of Australia
- National Portrait Gallery
- Questacon
- AIS Arena
- Australian Institute of Sport
- Canberra International Sports & Aquatic Centre
- Canberra Stadium
- Canberra Yacht Club
- Deakin Stadium
- Gungahlin Enclosed Oval
- Manuka Oval
- McKellar Park
- Narrabundah Ballpark
- National Hockey Centre
- Phillip Ice Skating Centre
- Phillip Oval
- Royal Canberra Golf Club
- Southern Cross Stadium
- Viking Park
- Woden Park
and islands
- Lake Burley Griffin
- Queen Elizabeth II Island
- Spinnaker Island
- Springbank Island