This boutique Brisbane hotel has framed an old lunch order. It's these subtle details that make it a must stay
For someone on their first trip to Brisbane, James Street was a place I was unfamiliar with.
But when I told a tour guide I was staying at the boutique hotel Miss Midgley's, the immediate response was related to James Street and all it has to offer.
The street stretches from the famed Fortitude Valley up to the Brisbane River, or brown snake river, in New Farm. Nestled in the middle of the street is Miss Midgley's.
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Miss Midgley's hotel is found on James Street in Brisbane. David Chatfield
It's a boutique hotel that oozes style.
Immediately you are taken away by how well it combines heritage and a modern design. The brick foundation gives it a vintage feel while the pink, mauve, red and terracotta colour pallet has a warmth to it that says 'this is luxury'.
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Over a century of history
The hotel was originally constructed 160 years ago and there's a rich history to the building.
Originally it was a private home, before being converted into an orphanage by the nuns from Sisters of Mercy. Then a former Queensland premier reclaimed it as his home and named it 'St Clair'.
It was used as a private hospital in the 1890s before the Midgley family bought it in 1903.
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The outdoor area of the Principal's Room. David Chatfield
Annie Midgley converted the home into a private school and called it 'Miss Midgley's Educational Establishment'.
116 years after that school was opened, it was then transformed into what it is now: a boutique hotel.
How many apartments are there?
In it is five luxury self-contained apartments. Four have two bedrooms and the fifth is a one-bedroom studio.
They all have air-conditioning, a outdoor private area and carpark. What's even better is pets can stay too.
I stayed in the principal's office which sits on the ground floor. Hannah Puechmarin
The rooms all have names too. The drawing room, refectory, assembly hall, locker room and principal's office.
I stayed in the principal's office which sits on the ground floor. It has a king bed, a kitchen, lounge room and spacious bathroom area. It's perfect for a solo traveller or couple.
The outdoor courtyard is definitely big enough for a dog and sits next to another essential feature: the pool.
The pool is shared among guests and has a tropical garden surrounding it along with a small sun deck.
The pool at Miss Midgley's. Lachlan Harper
What makes this place unique?
My favourite feature of the hotel was its subtle details and nod to the past.
Written on the walls in the principal's room are explanations to its features.
The painting in the kitchen and lounge room is described as a love letter that pays homage to all the things there are to love about Brisbane. The 10-metre long stone wall even has an explanation to its history.
Art at Miss Midley's explained. Lachlan Harper
As you walk into the hotel there's a framed piece of paper with a lunch order written on it.
It reads 'foot long pizza sub, italian herb pizza sauce, morza cheese toasted, lettuce tomato, cucumber, onion, olives, bbq sauce, honey mustard, two choc bics and coke. Micks!'
This was the order of the carpenter on November 8 2021 when he restored the building.
"These walls have recorded countless histories, it was time to add one more."
Carpenter Mick's lunch order. Lachlan Harper
Where to eat on James Street
Obviously there's also the need to address what to eat near the hotel.
As mentioned, James Street offers plenty.
I visited The Green, a middle eastern restaurant with the best Shaksuka I've ever had.
The slow-cooked roasted red pepper and tomato sauce, eggs, persian fetta, green shatta and house bread will fill your stomach over breakfast.
The Green Shakshuka at The Green. Lachlan Harper
When it came to lunch, I was looking for something that would keep me full to avoid any airport over-exorbitant snacks.
At Sixes and Seven, there was a great array of options. I went slightly basic and ordered a fried chicken burger. There was no regrets, it was just what was needed.
The chicken burger at Sixes and Sevens. Lachlan Harper
There's also plenty of fine dining options for dinner and you don't have to go far if you're looking for clothes shops too.
Messina is nearby as well, for that night-time dessert. Unfortunately, the line one night didn't quite suit my levels of patience.
Overall, the options are endless on the famed James Street and whether you're on a work trip, holiday or just passing by, Miss Midgley's has everything to offer.
This writer travelled as a guest of Miss Midgley's Hotel and Tourism and Events Queensland.
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