Hotel Kurrajong History
Hotel Kurrajong in Australia has a rich history, starting with its construction in 1925 by the Commonwealth’s chief architect, John Murdoch, who also designed the nearby Australian Parliament House. Originally built to house administrative and political staff, the hotel became famous for hosting guests invited to witness the official opening ceremony of parliament in 1927.
History of Hotel Kurrajong
Initially, it was only open to politicians, but during the Great Depression, it transformed itself into a public hotel to avoid closure. Over time, it became associated with the labour party and served as accommodation for labour party members visiting from other constituencies.
Notable guests included John Curtin, who later became the prime minister during the Second World War.
In 1964, Commonwealth Hostels Limited acquired the property and installed central heating. However, the hotel’s popularity dwindled, and it eventually closed its doors in 1976.
Two years later, the building was converted into offices for parliamentary staff. Hotel Kurrajong remained almost abandoned until 1993 when the Australian capital territory government financed its reopening and refurbishment, leading to its current success as a hotel.
Ben Chifley and Hotel Kurrajong
One notable guest of Hotel Kurrajong was Ben Chifley, a labour party politician who would later become the prime minister. Chifley spent a lot of time in the hotel while he was working for the royal commission on banking, which led to the nationalization of private banks in Australia.
The Haunting of Hotel Kurrajong
When Chifley became the prime minister in 1945, he decided not to move into ‘The Lodge,’ the official residence of the Australian Prime Minister, but instead moved permanently into Hotel Kurrajong. He continued living there even after the labour party’s defeat in 1949.
In 1951, Chifley attended an event to celebrate fifty years of Australian autonomy but later suffered a heart attack in his room at Hotel Kurrajong and passed away. The ghost of Ben Chifley is said to still haunt the hotel, with reports of sightings of a man in a grey suit walking around the property, often seen on balconies or near windows and pointing towards the parliament house.
Overall, Hotel Kurrajong has played an essential role in Australian political history, and with its unique charm and rich history, it continues to be a popular destination for guests from all around the world.
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Hotels nearby the Hotel Kurrajong
Here are the top 5 hotels near The Hotel Kurrajong, Australia along with their addresses, phone numbers, and approximate distances:
Address: 120 Commonwealth Ave, Yarralumla ACT 2600, Australia
Phone: +61 2 6270 1234
Distance: 1.6 km
Address: 1 London Circuit, Canberra ACT 2601, Australia
Phone: +61 2 6247 6244
Distance: 1.9 km
Address: 80 Northbourne Ave, Braddon ACT 2612, Australia
Phone: +61 2 6108 4760
Distance: 2.4 km
Address: 21 National Circuit, Barton ACT 2600, Australia
Phone: +61 2 6188 3200
Distance: 2.5 km
Address: 18 National Circuit, Barton ACT 2600, Australia
Phone: +61 2 6163 1800
Distance: 2.6 km
Note: The distances are approximate and may vary based on the route taken.
