Brassey in Canberra, Canberra, Australia | Hotel

Hello and welcome Brassey, Hotel, Canberra Australia.   The Brassey of Canberra Hotel is located within the central, quiet, leafy tree lined suburb of Barton.  Set in 2 and a half acres of lawns and gardens on the fringe of the parliamentary triangle it is within walking distance to many of Canberra's Tourist attractions.  The Brassey is a mere 7 minute drive to the City's Centre.  Canberra Airport is only 10 kms away and Kingston Train Station is just 1km. The Brassey Hotel, named after Sir Thomas Brassey, Governor of Victoria from 1885 to 1900 and first Earl of Brassey from 1911 until his death in in 1918, was completed in 1927 to coincide with the establishment of the Federal Parliament in Canberra.

Brassey,House, as it was known then, represented one of the very few accommodation houses in Canberra during this early period. It was used as a guest house for the exclusive use of members of parliament and mid-level government officials relocating to Canberra. Originally The Brassey offered 45 rooms with share facilities and a full weeks board cost 3 pounds. During the mid 1960's the government of the day expanded the capacity to 131 rooms and added conference and meeting rooms.  As the decades rolled on Brassey House saw generations of officials, both civil and military, come and go. But times were changing and the 1980's saw the government and defence forces moving away from guest house style accommodation in favour of apartments. Thus the traditional reason for the existence of Brassey began to disappear.

In 1987 Brassey House was sold at government auction to a group of local Canberra businessmen. That began the latest and still expanding chapter of Brassey's history. The name was changed to the Brassey of Canberra and extensive refurbishments have taken place. The Brassey now boasts 81 guest rooms with private facilities, The Belmore Restaurant, Garden Bar and the original 'Piano Lounge'.  Designed by architects Budden and Hood and built by Colonel James Walker, one of the more unusual features of the Brassey is that it is rumored to have been built back to front, in that the grand entrance faces the quiet Belmore Gardens, while a more modest façade faces the busy thoroughfare of Macquarie Street. Be that as it may, there is nothing back to front about the Brassey's continuing story of success.