[1] In 1872 the Burtons erected the first Normanby Hotel on the site, a modest two-storeyed building which fronted Kelvin Grove Road.

The new hotel was formally opened on Monday 1 December 1890 with a dinner for fifty men, most of them prominent citizens including James Drake and John Annear (both Members of the Queensland Legislative Assembly).

[1] The substantial, Queen Anne styled brick hotel stands in a prominent location on the northern ridge above Petrie Terrace, and dominates the vista at the Normanby Fiveways.

[1] The principal facades to the southwest and southeast are richly ornamented with cantilevered balconies beneath the gables, arcaded verandahs, and an oriel window which once overlooked the city.

It is a picturesque, substantially intact, late 19th century hotel, employing decorative elements calculated to be popularly pleasing, and is important in illustrating the principal characteristics of its type.

It is a picturesque, substantially intact, late 19th century hotel, employing decorative elements calculated to be popularly pleasing, and is important in illustrating the principal characteristics of its type.

The place has strong landmark quality, and both the 1890 main building and the interwar bottleshop, along with mature trees in the grounds, make a significant contribution to the Red Hill/Petrie Terrace townscape.