Miss Midgely's is a boutique hotel located in a heritage building on Brisbane's central James Street. Photo / David Chatfield
Bethany Reitsma checks into Miss Midgely’s, a boutique central Brisbane hotel located in one of the city’s oldest heritage buildings.
Location: 135 James St, New Farm QLD 4005, Australia. It’s a 20-minute drive from Brisbane International Airport.
Perfect For: An inner-city getaway that feels like staying in the suburbs.
The hotel is home to just five apartments, four of which are two-bedroom - ideal for sharing with friends or family. You can also book out the entire guesthouse for bigger groups. The downstairs accommodation is pet-friendly.
First Impressions: Built in 1860, the heritage-listed structure has evolved over the past century and a half from a family home to an orphanage, a hospital and a school, run by Annie Midgely - hence the name.
Mother-and-daughter duo Lisa and Isabella White, both architects, bought the building in 2020 and have since transformed it into a boutique guesthouse.
Now, you can feel the sense of history in each apartment, from the original hearths to the unique Brisbane tuff stonework, wooden floorboards and ornate plasterwork ceilings.
They’ve chosen furnishings and artwork that bring the interior up to date without losing that history - a tricky balancing act to pull off.
The room: I stay in the Locker Room ground floor apartment, which has two bedrooms, a cosy living area, and spacious sunken kitchen, with an outside door leading to a private balcony.
While the living area, kitchen and bathroom are decked out in pink paint, tiles and decor to match the original tuff, the bedrooms are more minimalistic, with pristine white bedding and floaty full-length curtains.
It’s not often you get the luxury of a hotel bedroom that’s completely separate from the living area, and I find it encourages a truly restful sleep.
Bathroom: The bathroom has a unique layout, thanks to the building’s original design. Steps rising from the aforementioned sunken kitchen lead to one sink directly beneath a window, with a second sink, toilet and rain shower on the left in the bathroom itself.
Full-sized refillable Hunter Lab toiletries and a hairdryer are provided.
Facilities: The shared facilities include a heated outdoor pool, car parking at the front of the building, bike storage, a laundry room, and a library of secondhand books, while the Locker Room apartment has its own built-in bookshelf with glass doors.
Each apartment has air conditioning, a fully equipped kitchen with a microwave/convection oven, toaster, Nespresso and kettle, and a smart TV and soundbar in the living room.
Food and drink: Basics like milk, ice and chilled water are provided, along with Nespresso coffee pods, loose leaf Byron Bay Tea Co. teas, hot chocolate and collagen sachets, and a biscuit jar of iced vovos.
There’s no restaurant or room service at Miss Midgely’s, but it is walking distance from the bustling James St precinct, where there are plenty of restaurants and cafes to choose from.
Middle Eastern eatery The Green is one of the most popular, and for good reason. I stop by for a much-needed iced latte, along with a fattoush salad with heirloom tomatoes, Lebanese cucumbers, fried pita and pomegranates. I’m back for breakfast the following morning: bacon and eggs on sourdough with banadurah harrah.
For dinner one night, I head to Blackbird Brisbane in the city and enjoy organic Longreach lamb rump and broccolini, expertly matched with a 2023 Kalleske Clarry’s GSM (a blend of Grenache, Shiraz, and Mourvèdre grapes), and a white coconut lamington dessert. If you like a view with your dinner, it’s one of the best dining spots overlooking the Brisbane River.
In the Neighbourhood: The James Street precinct is a five-minute walk away, with designer shops, restaurants, cafes and James Street Market for fancy groceries - you’ll have to venture a little further for the likes of Woolworths or Coles.
The Brisbane Riverwalk is just a few blocks away and is a great way to see the city’s skyline, with space for pedestrians and cyclists.
Sustainability: The building itself has been restored with energy saving in mind, with solar panels and batteries installed to reduce power use.
The pool is heated using a solar-powered electric heat pump, with outside and communal lights on timers. The rear balconies, pool deck and tiling around the pool are all made with recycled materials.
Inside, there are full-sized refillable toiletries from Hunter Lab, biodegradable coffee pods, loose-leaf tea and sugar cubes to reduce packaging, while a shared laundry space is available for guests.
Accessibility: The downstairs apartments are wheelchair accessible - get in touch with the owners for more information.
Price: Prices start from $370 per room per night.
Contact: For more information visit missmidgleys.com.au or call 1300 631 212.
New Zealand Herald stayed courtesy of Miss Midgely’s.