Not yet picked up by Townsville media is the fact that another hotel has suddenly closed in the city . From info received by our thirsty S(h)ipping Reporter, it seems the person leasing the hotel , in discussions to buy the business , has unexpectedly shut the doors , departed , staff not certain about pay. No doubt a reporter will pick up this interesting story while doing the milk bar and social media rounds in coming weeks .
Hotels are drying up all over Townsville. The Great Northern Hotel has been closed for ages since an arson attack ; despite a banner saying it would reopen soon, it has not done so . Across the road from it is the Newmarket Hotel which is for sale or lease ; it recently had a pale ale paint job which obscured its attractive art déco outline and name . Another local watering hole , the Victoria Park , made a comeback in a small way after a devastating fire. On Magnetic Island , the Arcadia Hotel , which has been on and off the market for years, is once more up for sale . And recently it was reported that 10 hotels are up for sale in North Queensland .
