3 minute read
Review: Breakfast Creek Hotel
Breakfast
Creek Hotel By Clayton Coughlan
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The Breakfast Creek Hotel or Brekky Creek as its know to the locals is arguably the most famous watering hole in Queensland and possibly Australia for over 120 years. The Breakfast Creek Hotel even featured in the opening line of the Midnight Oils hit song “Dreamworld”
The French Renaissance style hotel was built in 1889 by former Lord Mayor of Brisbane, William MacNaughton Galloway. Legend and rumour have it that to this day, that William haunts the hotel as he fell to his death after attempting to jump balconies after being locking in a hotel room upstairs while drunk one night, around 5 years after the hotel opened. In 1900, the hotel was sold to the Brisbane brewery that was known as Perkins & Co, known today as Castlemaine Perkins who remained the owners but subleased the running of the pub for over 80 years. Castlemaine Perkins ownership explains the enormous XXXX beer sign still sits proudly atop of the heritage-listed building today. The pub has seen a few renovations and additions over the years, but none have detracted from the grand
architecture if the old girl. One of the most recent renovations saw the pub take over the derelict electrical substation next door and introduced the Substation No41 Rum Bar.
I have to be up front and acknowledge that I have always enjoyed heading to the Creek for lunch on a Saturday with mates or after the races at Eagle Farm for dinner, its relaxed character, lush landscaping and outstanding design that boasts stunning timber decks which just ring out tropical queensland beergarden making it a great location to catch up with friends and family to enjoy a meal and drink.
If you are in Brisbane and considering heading to the Breakfast Creek Hotel I can tell you there are three things you must partake in to enjoy all the Creek has to offer.
Firstly take part in a little slice of Australian history and have a beer off the wood. Legend has it that former Australian Prime minister, Bob Hawke, allegedly played a big part in ensuring that beer continued to be served off the wood at the Brekky Creek after wooden kegs started to be phased out in the late 70’s in favor of new stainless steel kegs. This did not impress the many Whafies who frequented the Brekky Creek. At the time the Former PM Bob Hawke was the President of the ACTU and stepped up raised the issue over the kegs with Castlemaine Perkins’ Managing Director, Paddy Fitzgerald. The rest is history, beer of the wood continued to be served, and the bar was appropriately renamed the Paddy Fitzgerald Bar. Secondly, if you are a vegetarian, you are not going to enjoy this much at all. If you, however, enjoy a legendary piece of steak you need head into what looks a little like a traditional butcher shop to check out the full range of mouthwatering steaks in the display cabinet, pick one that you wish to be cooked your way. Then sit back while enjoying a cool drink and wait for your meal to be delivered. For mine you can’t go past the Grass-fed rib fillet from Mandalong Station NSW.... in their own words. Grass-fed goodness!
Thirdly, after enjoying your meal, make sure you pop into Substation No 41 Rum Bar. With over 500 rums from more than 50 countries the choice is extensive, but if you are looking for the best of the best Rums be prepared to have deep pockets with a the top premium Rum relieving your bank account of hundreds of dollars for a single shot but the one you can’t go past and at a reasonable price is their own Substation No 41 Rum. With an industrial look décor and welcoming atmosphere, the bar fitout is impressive. The only negative thing I can say about the Brekky Creek is the steaks might be little pricey for some, however its like a paint restoration project, you get what you pay for and I wouldn’t think you will be disappointed with your visit or meal.
