Extract from ABC News
Ryan Turnbull serving one of his last drinks at The Criterion Hotel. (ABC Capricornia: Vanessa Jarrett)
In short:
Rockhampton's Criterion was built in 1889 during the gold rush and as farming was flourishing.
The Turnbull family bought the property in 1991.
What's next?
After 35 years, the family has decided to sell, with the property to go on the market on May 1.
For 35 years the Turnbull family has owned Rockhampton's oldest pub, The Criterion Hotel.
"In 1991, my father was a hotel broker and he was offered to come up to 'The Cri' and live here for a bit and then sell it," Ryan Turnbull said.
"We got up here and mum loved the joint, and here we are."
Left: The Cri circa 1918, photographed by Arthur Goodwin Junior. Right: Circa 1947, from the State Library of Queensland. (Supplied)
Opened in 1890 and built on the banks of the Fitzroy River, the grand three-storey structure with a belfry encapsulates the historic features of that era.
The foyer features diamond chequered marble flooring, an ornate timber staircase, sparkling chandeliers and intricate stained-glass windows.
Across the corridors a labyrinth of bars and rooms have walls lined with memorabilia, photographs, newspaper clippings and relics.
It was the feel of the building that worked its way into Leigh and Carolyn Turnbull's heart who at the time were living on the Gold Coast, 700 kilometres away.
They worked to showcase more of the heritage, restoring the bar to its original ceiling height and adding the steakhouse and motel in 2004.
As he got older, Ryan came to appreciate the historic property, and he too fell in love with the place.
"It's always had that feeling of home, even when you don't come here much. It's always had that good vibe," Ryan said.
"It's a privilege to look after."
Foundations of The Cri
The original Bush Inn, built in 1857, pictured here in 1873. (Supplied: State Library of Queensland)
The original hotel was built around 1857 adjacent to where The Criterion Hotel still stands today.
Owned by Richard Parker and George Cannon, The Bush Inn — as it was known — was the first hotel built in Rockhampton when the city was declared.
After Mr Parker's death in 1860 it was passed to his four-year-old daughter Dorinda, with his wife Maria managing the property.
That following year it was renamed to The Criterion Hotel.
Maria died in 1875 when 18-year-old Dorinda took it over with her husband George Silar Curtis.
The Fitzroy River in flood in 1890 with The Criterion Hotel standing tall. (Supplied: State Library of Queensland/Jen Hansen Lundager)
By the 1880s the region's economy was flourishing with wealth from the gold rushes, cattle and coal.
Rockhampton-based historian Phil Hore said the "whole area was growing so quickly".
"They felt they needed something grand to represent that, which was The Criterion Hotel,"he said.
As an ambitious businesswoman, Dorinda sought to cash in, creating a new fine, three-storey building designed with British architect James Flint.
Top: Taken from Fitzroy Bridge in 1920, Criterion Hotel pictured to the left. Bottom: The Old Fitzroy Bridge in flood, 1918. (Archives: State Library of Queensland/Rockhampton Regional Library History Centre)
It was built in 1889 using marble, brick and stone by Robert Kirkham of Sydney, who was given 10,000 pounds for the job.
At the time it was reported in newspapers to be the finest hotel north of Sydney.
The hotel remained part of the Curtis estate up until 1946 when it was sold it to Henry Smith, ending the familial line.
It had been the only property in the city that remained in possession of the one family, inherited from father to daughter and granddaughter.
20th-century changes
The Criterion Hotel is filled with markers and memories of its 130-year history. (ABC Capricornia: Vanessa Jarrett)
In 1966 the sons of Henry Smith and their sister Joan Johnston bought it off their father and added the motel unit complex on the southern side, making it the first hotel-motel operation in Rockhampton.
They sold it at auction in the early 1980s and the Balkin, Gill and Tourish families became the new owners.
During their time they remodelled with a French theme and created the Newsroom Bar for the clientele of the neighbouring Morning Bulletin newspaper.
Then in 1991 Leigh and Carolyn Turnbull took the reins , with four generations of their family residing at the hotel during their 35 years at the helm.
Celebrity sightings
For more than a century The Cri has hosted notable identities including former Australian prime minister Sir Robert Menzies, Dame Nellie Melba and Charles Kingsford Smith, along with sporting legends Sir Donald Bradman, touring English cricket sides, Artie Beatson and Wally Lewis.
Royalty has stayed too, including the Duke of Gloucester Prince Henry when he was the 11th governor-general of Australia in 1946.
The Duke of Gloucester's visit to Rockhampton in 1946. (Supplied: Rockhampton Regional Library History Centre)
Ryan recalled stories of musicians Tina Arena and Joe Cocker paying a visit.
"I like it when you get a lot of people that will come in unannounced," he said.
"[They] come in because of word of mouth, and they want to come in for a good steak."
Roadworks for the new Fitzroy River Bridge in 1950 with The Criterion Hotel in the background. (Supplied: Rockhampton Regional Library History Centre)
'Haunted' halls
The Criterion attracts a lot of paranormal enthusiasts as it's longtime lore to be haunted by ghosts, historian Phil Hore explained.
Mr Hore said the most common story was the tale of a jilted lover chambermaid, Mabel Curtis, the daughter of Dorinda and George Curtis, who died by suicide in the workers' quarters.
"She was in a love affair that did not go very well … and so she's currently haunting the top floor of the building," Mr Hore said.
A photo of the chambermaid hangs in the grand foyer of the hotel.
"Because the stairwell inside is so famous and picturesque I'll often take photos of people on that stairwell," Mr Hore said.
"They'll send me their photos back going, 'Look in the background, you can see something in the background.'"
Historian Phil Hore runs guided tours in Rockhampton on the history and heritage buildings of the city. (Supplied: Explore Rockhampton)
Ryan is used to fielding questions about ghosts and has had a few "dealings" of his own.
"I've never seen her [the chambermaid] but I had a few unexplained things happen when I was 25, 26," Ryan said.
"Just locking up and hearing noises and chairs getting knocked off the bar."
Time to hand on the torch
The Criterion Hotel pictured in 1985, still similar to what it looks like today. (Supplied: State Library of Queensland/ Peter Fischmann)
With his parents well into retirement, Ryan said he was looking to move out of the city now his children were nearing the end of high school.
"We thought now is the time to do it, to give the new folks a go at big events and such like … Rockynats next year, and also beef week [Beef Australia] next year," Ryan said.
Historian Phil Hore hoped to see the property retain the status its renowned for in future.
"It's a fantastic building and hopefully it'll remain the centre of Rockhampton [and] heart of Rockhampton," he said.
"Hopefully that history will go on for another 100 years."
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