In our first peek behind the screens of Nicholas Street Precinct for 2024, a significant milestone has been reached on the revitalisation of the iconic Hotel Commonwealth with all major structural steel work now complete.
When looking north towards the Bremer River from the verandah of the century-old building, you can see the roof truss for the kitchen has been installed – the future hub of the hotel for keeping hungry patrons fed throughout the indoor and outdoor dining areas.
Block walls are now in progress for both basement floors, along with the installation of services to these areas such as plumbing and electricity. Concrete stair construction throughout the hotel is also mostly complete.
From Bell Street, you might spy the block work wall for an external pump room, and Hutchinson Builders are clearing out their compound at the rear of the site to prepare for work on the hotel car park.
Looking ahead, the next few weeks will see roofing work underway for the new kitchen, the amenities block on the west of the hotel, and the external pump room.
Right now, the interior design is being finalised as we approach the end of the hotel expansion, and it won’t be long now until AusHotels moves in to complete the internal fit out.
We’ll be back behind the screens of the Hotel Commonwealth in four weeks’ time to update you on progress as the countdown continues to re-opening the classic Ipswich pub.
Join us in a fortnight as we check behind the screens of another major development in our emerging city heart – the Nicholas Street venue building entertainment precinct.
