Q Station

Was a pleasant surprise. I thought the place was so cool.

Q Station is a distinctive heritage destination containing historic buildings, relics and stories associated with people quarantined on the site between 1828 and 1984. Q Station's land and buildings are owned by the NSW Government but leased to a private operator - Glenn Piper of Epochal Hotels. https://epochalhotels.com.au/venues-2/. Our room was clean, quiet and comfortable; however, room quality and character appear to vary considerably. We paid the same rate for our room as friends travelling with us. Their large, north-facing room in P22 featured a timber bed, contemporary bathroom and non-working fireplace, giving it considerable historical charm. By comparison, our smaller rear room in P23 had a modern bed and an accessible bathroom but resembled a standard hotel room and had little heritage character. Guests seeking a more distinctive room may therefore wish to discuss the available options with reception before arrival. Reception advised that rooms P11 and P12, while having Sydney Harbour views, are smaller, with queen-size beds, while the larger king-size rooms are located toward the top of the site at P21, P22 and P23. Guests staying in rooms cannot drive onsite and instead travel with their luggage by shuttle bus from reception. Cottage guests are permitted to drive onsite, although the cottages tend to book out well in advance. We also dined onsite at the Boilerhouse Kitchen & Bar. As we booked on the day, indoor seating was unavailable, but we were able to sit outside beneath a heater. There was no table service apart from delivery of the meals; nevertheless, both the food and atmosphere were excellent. We spoke with other guests who had completed the ghost tour and described it as worthwhile and good value for the price. We will have to do that on our next visit. There is also a free shuttle bus to and from Manly that runs frequently on the weekend.

Although the buildings retain much of their period character, some areas would benefit from maintenance and refurbishment. In particular, sections of the timber steps and walkways showed signs of rotting, while some buildings would benefit from repainting and roof repairs.

This is an important part of our history, hidden under our noses. To hear some of the trials and tribulations that our ancestors experienced was mesmerising. There are free shuttles from Manly to the complex, travel by train and ferry for an unforgettable time. And don’t forget the ghost tour!

Some outside lights were not working, proving nighttime walks a little challenging, room doors could be better weather proof.

Nice grounds, very peaceful, dinner at the boiler house restaurant was amazing. Staff were very polite and helpful. Lovely to walk around the grounds and explore the site. Lots of wildlife aroun.

No fresh air in the room or opening windows and only a ceiling fan, was very stuffy and unable to leave the door open overnight for fresh air as there were no screens. The external bathroom had a very unpleasant smell. Understandable as it is heritage listed, but not worth the price.