The Manor Apartments

The Manor Apartments are located at 289 Queen Street. Acting as both permanent and hotel accommodation, the Manor offers apartments for the weary traveller and corporate clientele. Officially known as Newspaper House, the building has also been known as the Colonial Mutual Life Building. The building was constructed between 1930 and 1931 for Colonial Mutual Life Assurance Society (CML). To compensate for the site's narrow frontage of a small 10 metres, an agreement was made between the Commonwealth authorities, who administer the adjoining GPO, and Colonial Mutual Life to allow a "right-of-way to extend the full depth of the building".


The building is 10 storeys high with a very narrow frontage to Queens Street. There are several sculptured ornaments adorning the building. The style of these on the building facades is influenced by American Art Deco buildings of the 1930's. These included sculptured lions like those seen in this photo, and at the top there are a number of eagle gargoyles which gaze down at those on the street below.

I love the architecture of this building. The depth and the sculptures make it visually attractive as part of the streetscape. The heritage elements also make it unique. It is beyond those buildings of the late 1800's, yet still reflects a time between the world wars where different influences were coming in to play.

Cheers, I Love Brisbane, Wes.

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