Collection: Clarence Corner Hotel: Woolloongabba

The Clarence Corner Hotel in Woolloongabba has a history that reflects the transformation of Brisbane from a rural settlement into a growing urban centre. The site was first occupied by the original Clarence Hotel, built in 1863 to serve bullock teamsters travelling along Boggo Road (now Annerley Road) on their way to Ipswich, making it an important early stopping point for transport and trade. As Brisbane expanded during the economic boom of the 1880s, this modest timber hotel was replaced in 1889 by the current masonry building, constructed to cater to a more urban clientele and to reflect the increasing commercial importance of Woolloongabba. Located at the prominent intersection of Stanley Street and Annerley Road, the hotel became such a well‑known landmark that the surrounding area took on the name “Clarence Corner.” Over time, the hotel evolved with the suburb—at one stage being known as the Newton Hotel—before returning to its current name, and it continues to operate today as a heritage‑listed reminder of Brisbane’s late‑19th‑century growth and community life.