QHA_Review March_2021

COVID CLOSURE REFRESH
A SIX-MONTH COVID-ENFORCED CLOSURE WAS THE CATALYST FOR AN ASTONISHING REFRESH OF A BOUTIQUE
INNER-CITY BRISBANE ART HOTEL.
The Constance hotel in the heart of Brisbane’s
Fortitude Valley has always renowned for its vibrancy
and colour. However for the hotel’s General Manager,
Jason Pratt, the uniquely decked out hotel interiors are
now surpassed by the warmth of his staff.
Hotel employees, who were on Jobkeeper at the
time, extensively deep cleaned every guestroom:
meticulously cleaning carpets, detailing guest
bathrooms, painting and refreshing every inch of the
rooms in readiness for its reopening.
Thanks to this remarkable work by the hotel’s
employees and some of the hotel’s suppliers,
The Constance has made a stunning return with
business booming thanks to many stay-cationers and
roadtrippers.
Originally constructed in 1955, the building certainly
has an interesting past. It was first used as a
clubhouse for the Brisbane chapter of a mysterious
international secret society called the Royal
Antediluvian Order of Buffalos (RAOB). It was later
bought in 2008 but was not developed until 2013.
During this time it became a haven for street artists.
When work finally began on the hotel, both the
developer and architect elected to preserve the street
art, tracking down the original artists to artfully restore
many of the original pieces and commission a few new
ones. The street art now forms the foundation for the
alluring aesthetic of the hotel. It is a stunning property
- a sleek inner-city location fused masterfully with an
edgy design.
Striking pieces from world acclaimed artists such as
Fintan Magee, Numskull, Rone and Beastman are
blended with suave finishes, such as 150-year-old
renewed timber flooring. The overarching design
showcases the contrast between the building’s rustic
elements and its clean lines and ultra-contemporary
fittings.
The property is now managed by renowned boutique
operator Lancemore Hotels, who also used the
downtime to develop The Constance’s vibrant new
brand and name.
QHA REVIEW | 15