23 Sep 2025
Words
John Miller Informer
AUSTRALIA’S TOP 40 REGIONAL HERITAGE HOTELS
Here’s our pick of the best regional heritage hotels around the country. 40 in all.
Why 40? ResortBrokers turned 40 this year — we’re partial to the number!
VICTORIA
01 Hotel Bellinzona
Daylesford
In 2021, The Houses Hotel Group acquired this former 1903 guesthouse and turned it into a destination. Situated in Australia’s undisputed spa capital, Hotel Bellinzona is a decadent 63-key stay complete with sumptuous interiors, a gourmet restaurant and event spaces. Interested? Give us a call. Hotel Bellinzona is for sale through ResortBrokers.
bellinzona.com.au
02 Central Springs Inn
Daylesford
Another Daylesford darling. Set across two heritage buildings — the Gentleman’s Guesthouse and Howe’s Provender Store, dating from 1865 and 1875 respectively — this 26-room inn comes with a quaint two-bedroom manager’s cottage. ResortBrokers sold the leasehold of this historic inn in 2024.
centralspringsinn.com.au
03 Hotel Ernest
Bendigo
Housed within the city’s oldest bank — a grand sandstone building erected in 1864 — Hotel Ernest Bendigo retains many of its original features, from underground cellar to old bank vault. Look a little closer and the past quite literally leaves its mark: a bullet hole etched into the ground floor — a gritty remnant from the heady days of the Victorian gold rush, so legend has it.
hotelbendigo.com.au
04 Hotel Provincial
Ballarat
Built in 1909, this National Trust-recognised building is one of Ballarat’s most famous landmarks. TV personality Gorgi Coghlan and businessman husband Simon Coghlan acquired the property in 2018 and lavishly refurbished it in French provincial style, earning them a swag of prizes including a TAA Victoria Best Boutique Hotel Award in 2019. ResortBrokers sold the Coghlan’s leasehold interest in 2022.
theprovincialballarat.com.au
05 Old Market Inn
Port Fairy
Opened in 1871 as The Market Hotel, this heritage-listed two-storey bluestone building in Port Fairy on the Great Ocean Road has only three suites but an abundance of charm: high corniced ceilings, Baltic pine floors and cosy fireplaces for those crisp Southern Ocean breezes. Old Market Inn is two minutes’ drive from the owner’s other Port Fairy venue, Magnetic Cottage, which, like its sister, has powers to attract.
oldmarketinn.com.au
06 Portarlington Grand Hotel
Portarlington
Portarlington on the Bellarine Peninsula was given a new lease of life thanks to AFR rich lister Paul Little who has poured millions into the town over the last few years. In 2019, he bought the 1888-established Grand Hotel for approximately $10 million. The Grand wasn’t looking so grand, so Little spent another $10 million doing it up into a reinvigorated 18-room boutique hotel that has reestablished itself as one of Port Phillip Bay’s most popular seaside retreats.
portarlingtongrandhotel.com.au
07 Talisker Homestead
Merino
This stately home was literally made off the sheep’s back. Built in 1901, Talisker Homestead was once part of the Merino Downs pastoral run in Western Victoria. It remains a working sheep farm today, as well as an 11-room boutique hotel. Guests can enjoy 360-degree views of the surrounding countryside via the homestead’s viewing tower which occupies an imperious position atop a large hill.
taliskerhomestead.com.au
08 Vue Grand
Queenscliff
Queenscliff’s most extravagant hotel has been turning heads since 1881. This heritage-listed, 33-room icon boasts ornate Victorian-era architecture and a multi-award-winning Grand Dining Room — the hotel’s main showpiece. A standout is the Turret Suite, located at the very top of the hotel. Here, guests can luxuriate in their spa bath while taking in 180-degree views of Swan Bay and Port Phillip Heads.
vuegrand.com.au
09 Craig’s Royal Hotel
Ballarat
Of all the entries in this list, the 41-room Craig’s Royal Hotel has the most incredible backstory. In 1857, Walter Craig, a surveyor by trade, purchased what was then Bath’s Hotel, after which it was known as Craig’s Hotel. (The “Royal” part was added following the 1867 visit by the Duke of Edinburgh, the first royal to stay in Ballarat.) Months before the 1870 Melbourne Cup, Craig dreamt that his horse Nimblefoot would win and that the jockey would wear a black armband — symbolic of mourning him. Craig died in August 1870, and, in uncanny fulfillment of that vision, Nimblefoot won the Cup with the jockey wearing a black armband. Spooky.
craigsroyal.com.au
NEW SOUTH WALES
10 The Convent
Hunter Valley
Threatened with demolition in the 1980s, this 1909 Brigidine Sisters’ home was transported from its original location in Coonamble over 430 km away to Pokolbin in the Hunter Valley. Reopened in 1991, The Convent now sports French Provincial decor with 17 rooms, a winery and fine dining restaurant. Eat, pray, love.
convent.com.au
11 Carrington Hotel
Katoomba
This 65-room Blue Mountains’ marvel, loftily located in Katoomba, opened in 1883 and was restored to her former glory in 2004. The hotel’s stained-glass domed crown owes its creation to another crown: the Duke and Duchess of York, later King George VI and Elizabeth the Queen Mother, who made a brief stop here during their tour of Australia in 1927.
thecarrington.com.au
12 Settlers Arms Inn
St Albans
Located two hours’ drive from Sydney in the Macdonald Valley, this exquisite two-storey sandstone tavern was built by an emancipated convict in 1836. Today, the 189-year-old inn, accommodating up to 12 guests, is the centre of life in historic St Albans.
settlersarmsinn.com.au
13 Moss Manor
Moss Vale
Moss Manor has had several incarnations over its 135-year life. Originally developed in 1890 as council chambers and mayoral residence in the Southern Highlands village of Moss Vale, Moss Manor is now a cosy eight-room boutique hotel adorned with works by revered Australian artists.
mossmanor.au
14 Oxford on Otho
Inverell
Inverell’s oldest hotel with a continuous license originally opened in 1886 as The Oxford Hotel. The grand two-storey brick building was the first of its kind in the town. Today, it has been reimagined as an eight-room boutique hotel with restorations that include the building’s original carriageway arch, once used by horse-drawn coaches headed for the rear stables.
oxfordonotho.com.au
15 Rooms of Renown
Leeton
Set in a 1915 building that once housed a dental surgery, fashion boutique and lending library, Rooms of Renown offers three Art Deco-inspired luxury apartments. Thoughtfully restored by local owners, the boutique hotel celebrates the Riverina’s rich heritage, from its preserved facade to elegant interiors.
roomsofrenown.com.au
16 Hydro Hotel
Leeton
Another Leeton landmark. Built at the highest point in town, this 25-room Art Deco darling was completed in 1919 to accommodate staff working on the Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area. The water flowed but the grog didn’t — Leeton was a prohibition town (yes, we banned the demon drink in parts of Australia too). With those dark days now well behind us, we raise a glass to the Hydro Hotel.
hydrohotel.com.au
17 Flash Jacks of Gundagai
Gundagai
Named after Banjo Paterson’s gun shearer Flash Jack, this restored 1888 convent turned boutique hotel boasts nine elegant rooms, lush gardens and views of the surrounding hills. Paterson’s Flash Jack squandered his potential with womanising and booze, and would no doubt have approved of the good life offered by the hotel that bears his name.
kimoestate.com/flash-jacks-of-gundagai-2/
18 William Arnott Boutique Hotel
Maitlannd
The name Arnott is synonymous with Aussie biscuits. This boutique hotel is where it all started back in 1865. What was the original bakehouse has now been reimagined as luxury accommodation thanks to Stephen Arnott and wife Allison. Each room pays homage to the biscuit behemoth started by Stephen’s Scottish forefathers with rooms named ‘Family Assorted,’ ‘Monte Carlo,’ ‘Vovo Suite,’ and ‘SAO Studio.’
historicarnottbakehouse.com.au
19 & 20 Circa 1936 & Circa 1928
Corowa & Albury
Read our second feature!
circa1936.com.au; circahotels.com
QUEENSLAND
21 Halse Lodge
Noosa
Built in the 1920s, Halse Lodge is South East Queensland’s longest continuously operating guesthouse and has been owned by the Anglican Church of Southern Queensland for over six decades. In 2020, well-known management rights operator Michael Tozer and wife Chloe, operating under a lease from the church, lovingly resurrected the 29-room guesthouse, making the pages of Vogue in the process.
halselodgenoosa.com.au
22 Abbey Boutique Hotel
Warwick
Built in the 1890s as a convent for cloistered nuns of the Sisters of Mercy order, this 14-key hotel remains divine through its architecture and fittings: stain glass windows, four-poster beds and stately verandas encased in an exquisite two-storey sandstone building in classic Gothic style. You can stay in what was the Mother Superiors’ room or embrace self-flagellation by staying in the former ‘Nuns Cell’ of only 10 sqm, though now with the heaven-sent luxury of a Queen bed with air conditioning.
abbeyboutiquehotel.com.au
23 Hotel Corones
Charleville
Built in 1929 by Greek-Australian entrepreneur Harry Corones, Charleville’s most famous landmark was hailed in its day as “the most up?to?date hotel outside the metropolis.” The crowning glory of this two?storey masonry masterpiece was undoubtedly its bar — the longest in the Southern Hemisphere at the time. ResortBrokers sold the freehold going concern of this regal 50-key gem in 2023.
hotelcorones.com.au
24 The Criterion
Rockhampton
A landmark in Queensland’s beef capital since 1889, this 26-room heritage-listed three-storeyed masonry building was the place to be if you happened to be in Rocky. During its heyday, the great and the good who passed through its doors included Sir Robert Menzies, Dame Nellie Melba, Sir Charles Kingsford Smith, General Douglas MacArthur, Sir Donald Bradman and favourite son, Rockhampton’s own Rod Laver.
thecriterion.com.au
25 Maleny Lodge
Maleny
Built in 1909 as Rosedale, this rustic retreat in the heart of the Sunshine Coast Hinterland was originally the private residence of prominent local figures. Now a seven-room guesthouse, Maleny Lodge’s heritage highlights such as stained-glass windows and cosy fireplace have made it a beloved venue in one of the Hinterland’s most charming country towns.
malenylodge.com.au
26 Hides Hotel
Cairns
Heritage-listed Hides Hotel has been a cherished Cairns’ institution since it was established in 1885. Extensions were made between 1928 and 1936, which turned the hotel into the three-storey,
100-room Cairns’ colossus it is today.
hideshotel.com.au
WESTERN AUSTRALIA
27 Faversham House
Faversham
One of Western Australia’s grandest heritage mansions, Faversham House is a restored 1840s private residence overlooking Mount Brown. This elegant exemplar of Georgian and Victorian architecture offers a refined escape where guests can unwind in timeless splendour while exploring the Avon Valley’s charms.
favershamhouse.com.au
28 Farmers’ Home Hotel
Northam
Steeped in over 150 years of history, this historic Northam landmark in the heart of the Avon Valley was once a community hub for settlers and gold rush pioneers. Today, its 16 stylish rooms — ranging from airy parlour rooms to a spacious two-bedroom homestead — offer comfort and country chill.
farmershomehotel.com
29 The Premier Mill Hotel
Katanning
Once the lifeblood of Katanning, the 1891-built Premier Roller Flour Mills has been reborn as a 22-room boutique hotel. Located about 250 km from Perth, this heritage site was the first building in WA to boast electric light. Today, its industrial bones remain — most notably the original three-storey boiler, now a sculptural centrepiece around which the staircase spirals, anchoring a lobby that pays homage to the building’s flour-dusted past.
premiermillhotel.com
30 The York Palace
YORK
Just an hour from Perth in the historic township of York, this beautifully restored period hotel, originally built in 1909, offers elegant accommodation in both the main building and adjacent terraces. Its premier Lord Forrest Suite enjoys sweeping views of Mount Brown and Mount Bakewell from a wide veranda. Expect rich timber finishes, brocade drapes and a warm welcome from this Avon Valley gem.
theyork.com.au
31 York Hotel
Kalgoorlie
One of Kalgoorlie’s most Instagrammable stays, York Hotel opened in 1901 during the glory days of the town’s gold rush. Occupying a prime position on Kalgoorlie’s main street, this 18-room hotel built in ornate Anglo-Dutch style boasts an impressive entrance lounge, stately staircase and decorative woodwork throughout.
yorkhotel.com.au
SOUTH AUSTRALIA
32 Kingsford
Barossa Valley
Look familiar? Kingsford was the main filming location for TV drama McLeod’s Daughters. The series finished in 2008 and almost finished off Kingsford; the property was in a state of disrepair by the time the series ended. Thankfully, it was resurrected by a well-known Barossa family who gave us the 16-suite Kingsford, named after the building’s creator, Stephen King, a pastoralist who commissioned this two-storey, Georgian-style sandstone house in 1856.
kingsfordbarossa.com.au
33 The Old Mount Gambier Gaol
Mount Gambier
This 150-year-old former jail housed prisoners at His/Her Majesty’s pleasure. Now, you can stay at your own pleasure. This erstwhile correctional centre has 55 beds across its various ‘cells.’ But pack lightly. These lockups are much smaller than most hotel rooms: a punishing six-by-four metres.
theoldmountgambiergaol.com.au
34 Mount Lofty House
Adelaide Hills
Perched high above the Piccadilly Valley at the gateway to South Australia’s celebrated wine regions, this 1852-built private residence almost perished in the 1983 Ash Wednesday bushfires. Faithfully restored, she is now a multi-award-winning five-star boutique hotel with indulgent day spa and three-hat restaurant — a popular venue for romantic, cloud-kissed weddings.
mtloftyhouse.com.au
TASMANIA
35 The Empire
Queenstown
Known as the “Grand Old Lady” of the West, Empire Hotel was once a familiar site to visitors arriving at Queenstown by train, being located directly opposite the station. The train line moved decades ago, but Empire Hotel remains — her formidable facade still a prominent landmark in the heart of town. A stately staircase crafted from Tasmanian Blackwood provides a palatial path to the 24 rooms of this two-storey heritage-listed beauty.
empirehotel.net.au
36 Lufra Hotel & Apartments
Eaglehawk Neck
One of the Apple Isle’s most storied hotels, Lufra was built in 1948 by famed business mogul Reg Ansett. Designed in Art Deco style, Lufra was among Ansett’s finest hotels, boasting a public lounge, cocktail bar, dancefloor and silver-service restaurant. Overlooking Pirates Bay on the Tasman Peninsula, Ansett described Lufra’s outlook as “the best view of any hotel in the world.” In 2024, ResortBrokers sold the freehold going concern of Lufra to CameraPro founder Jesse Hunter.
lufrahotel.com
37 Pumphouse Point
Lake St Clare
Strikingly set almost 300 metres out on Lake St Clair at the southern end of the World Heritage-listed Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park, this former hydroelectric pumphouse dating from the 1930s is now a 12-suite boutique hotel.
pumphousepoint.com.au
38 The Woodbridge
New Norfolk
Dating from 1825, the oldest entrant in our list is a multi-award-winning nine-suite boutique hotel just outside Hobart in the Derwent Valley. Celebrating its bicentennial this year, this convict-built heritage-listed Georgian mansion won the 2005 Tasmanian Housing Industry Association’s Restoration of the Year Award then the national award the following year.
woodbridgenn.com.au
39 Red Feather Inn
Hadspen
Built by convicts in 1842, this sandstone inn located in historic Hadspen was originally known as Travellers’ Rest, the first changing post for horses pulling coaches and carts from Launceston to Deloraine for the day’s long journey. These days, the trip takes about 30 minutes by car. Times change but Red Feather Inn has lost none of its country charm. This stunning collection of sandstone buildings is now boutique accommodation for up to 35 people.
redfeatherinn.com.au
40 The Bowmont
Franklin
Situated in the historic boating village of Franklin along the Huon River, the 1906-built The Bowmont has weathered time and transformation: from financial institution to hospital, community hub to abandoned relic. Today, it stands reborn, the epitome of what its owners call “Tasmanian countryside cool.”
thebowmont.com.au
