ONE of Marburg’s heritage-listed centrepieces goes to auction, today (Friday).

The original single storey Marburg Hotel was built around 144 years ago and for more than half those years, the Bowden family has held the licence.

Beyond its integral role in the district’s development, the hotel’s buyer appeal is added to by the recent interior renovation of the ground floor including the public bar, restaurant, covered outdoor area and beer garden. And much of the 6,748sqm corner property is licensed.

The upper level has nine rooms, including a lounge.

The architecturally significant building was built by Marburg farmer, Wiegand Raabe, who was given the go ahead to transfer the licence from the Crown Hotel in Walloon to the Marburg Hotel at the annual licensing meeting in Ipswich in early April 1881.

The previous month, he had announced through an advertisement that he planned to apply for the transfer of the licence to his new hotel. Rabbe had described the then single storey building as having been “lately erected by me at Marburg”.

In the next 12 months, he seems to have fallen out of favour with the licensing court which first granted a licence, then refused to renew it, and finally granted it again.

After that he does not appear to have raised the ire of the licensing committee but his time as a hotelier in Marburg was cut short when he died on December 6, 1883, “after a protracted illness”.

His wife Auguste inherited the hotel and all the associated goods and chattel.

Research of the building’s history was undertaken in 1992, prior to its listing on the Queensland Heritage Register.

“It was among the first buildings in the town, and was the first hotel,” the researchers noted.

“In mid-1884 Auguste Raabe … renewed the hotel licence, and married Otto Sakrzewski, a Marburg storekeeper and carpenter, who then held the licence from mid-1885 until mid-1887.”

By the time the next licensee, Thomas Mortimer, took over, the town supported a population of around 5,000 and boasted a Court House, School of Arts, primary school, two hotels and electricity was supplied from TL Smith’s Woodlands sawmill.

Sakrzewski had retained the ownership of the property. When Mortimer left in 1890, Sakrzewski set about making some major changes.

“He,” according to the heritage register, “raised a £600 mortgage on the property in 1890, and the second storey may have been added then.”

Our own research found an article in the Queensland Times on April 12, 1890, where the Marburg correspondent reports that … “the new Marburg Hotel, which has lately been erected upon the site of the old hotel, has been completed, although it has not yet been taken over. The delay, I believe, has been caused through the painting. The hotel is a decided improvement to the place.”

Another entry from the correspondent on April 29, noted that … “The Marburg Hotel, which has lately been erected by Mr Otto Sakrewski, presents quite an imposing appearance in the town. It is a splendid two-storied building, with a verandah and balcony, encased in substantial iron mouldings, and extending round the front and one end of the edifice. Containing, as it does, 22 rooms, it will be a great addition to the architecture of the town.”

Back to the research from the heritage listing: “The Sakrzewski family held the licence until 1921, and the freehold remained theirs until 1925, having been sold to Otto’s brother, Albert, around1915.

“The hotel then passed through several owners, lessees and licensees until purchased by Queensland Brewery Ltd in 1936.

“It has remained Marburg's sole hotel since 1947.

“In 1986, the freehold was acquired by the Bowden family, who have been licensees of the Marburg Hotel since around 1944.

“The Marburg Hotel remains one of the oldest buildings in the town.”

• The hotel will be auctioned in the Ray White Real Estate offices in Ipswich at 10.30am today (May 30).