The Empire Hotel, in the mining town of Queenstown, is a Tasmanian icon with history dating back to the wealth of the mining era at the turn of the century. It is the grand old lady of the West Coast and has a prominent facade in the towns streetscape. Inside there is a National Trust staircase made from Tasmanian Blackwood. The raw timber was shipped to England, carved and sent back to Queenstown where it has enjoyed a rich history and is admired by all. The restaurant is set in a large traditional dining room with a sense of the grandeur of the past. In cold conditions the open fire is lit for added warmth and ambience. Accommodation is modest but clean and comfortable. Opposite is the meticulously restored West Coast Wilderness Railway that attracts visitors worldwide and runs to Strahan through rainforest vegetation. Queenstown is also noted for its 'Moonscape" a result of many years of mining in the area. There is a public golf course with a couple of 'special' rules for poor weather conditions! The area is popular for walking, local fishing and four wheel drive tracks. Queenstown is a unique destination and The Empire Hotel not to be missed.
