The Burdekin Hotel, Ayr

Ayr (and Brandon)
A small town in the heart of Queensland's sugar cane area.
Located 1287 km north of Brisbane, 88 km south of Townsville and 10 m above sea-level, Ayr is a typical thriving Central Coast town. It is a much more substantial centre than Home Hill which is effectively its twin town, lying just across the Burdekin River.

The Burdekin was first explored in the 1840s and by the 1860s Europeans had moved into the upper reaches of the valley. The coast, being marshy and difficult, was ignored and it wasn't until the 1870s that R. W. Graham of Lilliesmere and A. C. Macmillan of Airdmillan settled on the lower Burdekin and started growing sugarcane. In 1879 they decided to pool their resources to form the Burdekin Delta Sugar Company and this was sufficient for a small settlement to be formed on the northern side of the river. The town was named after the Scottish town of Ayr, the birthplace of the Queensland Premier, Thomas McIlwraith.

Today Ayr lies at the heart of one of the most productive sugarcane-growing areas in Australia. Three mills crush and process the local harvest.

Planting stalks of sugar cane near Ayr

The town is notable for its absence of interesting historical artifacts.

The bridge to the south of Ayr, known as the 'Silver Link', is over a kilometre long and since its construction in 1958 has ensured that the town has not been cut off by the floods which occur on the Burdekin most wet seasons.

Things to see:  

Buildings
On the main street of Ayr is a clock tower built in 1928 in honour of John Drysdale, an important local citizen who helped to provide the town and surrounding area with a reliable fresh water supply.

There is also a National Bank, which has some strikingly ostentatious columns, and a rather beautiful and substantial courthouse in the main street with a wide brick verandah.

Brandon
Just 5 km to the north of Ayr is the tiny settlement of Brandon. It is the kind of sugar-cane town which is easily driven through without so much as a sideways glance. However, at the northern end of town there is a superb wooden Catholic church which is listed on the National Trust. It has been described as: 'a timber Gothic church with a rectangular nave and a later porch and sanctuary. The exposed stud framework is lined with chamferboard. External chamferboards act as flashing above windows and doors. The nave has timber buttresses, lancet windows and ornamental gabled decoration. This is a fine example of a timber vernacular building.' Unfortunately the church was blown off its foundations during a cyclone some years ago. The council have moved it to the far end of town and left it to slowly rot. A pity given that it is obviously a building of great historical interest and that the local area lacks buildings of importance.

	Tourist Information
	Burderkin Tourist Information Centre Plantation Park, Bruce Hwy Ayr QLD 4807 Telephone: (07) 4783 5988
	Motels
	Ayr Max Motel 4 Edward St Ayr QLD 4807 Telephone: (07) 4783 2033 Rating: ***
	Ayrline Motel 129 Edward St Ayr QLD 4807 Telephone: (07) 4783 1100 Rating: ***
	Country Ayr Motel 197-199 Queen St Ayr QLD 4807 Telephone: (07) 4783 1700 Email: sales@countryayr.com.au Rating: ***
	Motel Parkside 74 Graham St Ayr QLD 4807 Telephone: (07) 4783 1244 Rating: ***
	Shamrock Motel 274 Queen St Ayr QLD 4807 Telephone: (07) 4783 1498
	Tropical City Motor Inn Cnr Macmillan & McKenzie Sts Ayr QLD 4807 Telephone: (07) 4783 1344 Rating: **
	Hotels
	Ayr Hotel 160 Queen St Ayr QLD 4807 Telephone: (07) 4783 2477
	Burdekin Hotel 204 Queen St Ayr QLD 4807 Telephone: (07) 4783 1222
	Kalamia Hotel 50 Queen St Ayr QLD 4807 Telephone: (07) 4783 1259
	Queens Hotel 103 Queen St Ayr QLD 4807 Telephone: (07) 4783 2202
	Caravan Parks
	Alva Beach Caravan Park Braby St Ayr QLD 4807 Telephone: (07) 4783 3383 Rating: **
	Burdekin Cascades Caravan Park 228 Queen St Ayr QLD 4807 Telephone: (07) 4783 1429 Rating: ***1/2
	Silver Link Caravan Park 34 Norham St Ayr QLD 4807 Telephone: (07) 4783 3933 Rating: ****
	Restaurants
	Ayr ANZAC Memorial Club 101 Burke St Ayr QLD 4807 Telephone: (07) 4783 1283
	Ayr Chinese Restaurant 164a Queen St Ayr QLD 4807 Telephone: (07) 4783 2559
	Charleys Queen St Ayr QLD 4807 Telephone: (07) 4783 4051
	Commercial Tavern 88-90 Queen St Ayr QLD 4807 Telephone: (07) 4783 1999
	Ivories Restaurant 74 Graham St Ayr QLD 4807 Telephone: (07) 4783 1244