You’ve probably seen the photos. That massive, looming sandstone facade on the corner of Queen and Elizabeth Streets in Brisbane. It looks like something out of a period drama, and honestly, that’s because it is. But there is a weird thing that happens when you search for it. You’ll see the Mining Exchange Wyndham Grand Hotel pop up in various contexts—sometimes as a luxury stay, sometimes as a historical landmark, and occasionally linked to business events that feel a bit "insider-y." It's confusing. Is it a hotel? A stock exchange? A relic?
Actually, it's all of those things wrapped into one.
The building itself is officially known as the Old Brisbane Stock Exchange, or more accurately, the Brisbane Mining Exchange. It’s one of those rare spots where the architecture tells you exactly how rich the city felt in the late 1880s. Gold was flowing. Everyone wanted a piece of the Gympie and Charters Towers rush. They built this place to look like a fortress of wealth. Today, staying there feels a bit like sleeping inside a vault, but with better linens and a decent espresso machine.
The Reality of the Mining Exchange Wyndham Grand Hotel Experience
If you walk into the lobby today, you aren't greeted by frantic traders shouting about gold yields. You get the smell of high-end diffusers and the hushed tones of a five-star check-in. The Mining Exchange Wyndham Grand Hotel—often referred to by locals simply as the "Mining Exchange"—is part of the Wyndham Grand collection, which is their top-tier luxury brand. This isn't your roadside Wyndham.
The rooms are huge.
Like, unnecessarily huge. Because the building was originally designed with high ceilings for ventilation and prestige, the hotel conversion had to work around massive vertical spaces. You end up with these loft-style suites where the windows are ten feet tall. It’s cool, but it also means the air conditioning has to work overtime in the Brisbane heat. Some guests find the lack of a "modern" glass-and-steel vibe a bit dark, but if you like history, it’s basically heaven.
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The location is basically unbeatable if you're in town for business. You are right in the heart of the CBD. You can walk to the Queen Street Mall in about three minutes. You can get to the riverfront in five. But because it’s a heritage building, don't expect a rooftop infinity pool. They couldn't exactly bolt one onto a protected Victorian structure without the city council losing its mind. Instead, you get a subterranean gym and a vibe that feels very "old money."
Why the "Mining Exchange" Name Still Sticks
Most hotels just take the name of the brand and the city. This one keeps the "Mining Exchange" prefix because, frankly, the history is too good to bury. Back in 1889, when the architect John Hall designed it, the building was the literal heartbeat of the Queensland economy.
It was a den of speculation.
Investors would crowd the floors, trading shares in mining companies that often didn't even exist yet. It was the Wild West, but with pocket watches and silk hats. When Wyndham took over the management of the property, they realized that "Wyndham Grand Brisbane" sounded a bit generic. By keeping the Mining Exchange name, they tapped into that sense of Victorian industrial power.
Interestingly, the building has gone through several lives. It wasn't always a hotel. It spent decades as office space, and for a while, people wondered if it would just become another dusty relic. The conversion to a luxury hotel was a massive gamble. It required preserving the ornate cedar joinery and the original stained glass while somehow hiding miles of internet cables and plumbing. They mostly succeeded. You’ll still see the original crests and masonry work that pay homage to the miners who essentially funded the city’s early growth.
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Navigating the Confusion: Mining Exchange vs. The Treasury
People often get the Mining Exchange Wyndham Grand Hotel mixed up with the Treasury Hotel just a few blocks away. It’s an easy mistake. Both are stunning, sandstone-heavy heritage buildings from the same era.
The difference is the energy.
The Treasury is tied to the casino, so it’s loud, flashy, and always buzzing. The Mining Exchange is the opposite. It’s quiet. It’s where you go when you want to disappear for a bit. It’s the choice for travelers who want the luxury of the "Golden Age" without having to walk through a gaming floor to find the elevators.
What the Reviews Won't Tell You
Look, no hotel is perfect. Even a "Grand" one. Because it’s an old building, the layout can be a bit of a maze. You might find yourself walking down a very long, very silent corridor wondering if you’ve taken a wrong turn into the 19th century.
- The Windows: They are beautiful, but they aren't always double-glazed to modern standards. Brisbane is a noisy city. If you’re on a lower floor near the Elizabeth Street side, you’re going to hear the buses.
- The Tech: They’ve tried to modernize, but thick stone walls are the natural enemy of Wi-Fi. It works, but it’s not always "lightning fast" in every corner of every suite.
- The Food: The on-site dining options lean heavily into the "classic" steakhouse and fine-dining vibe. It’s great, but if you want something experimental or trendy, you’re better off walking ten minutes to James Street or Howard Smith Wharves.
Most people don't realize that the basement levels of these old exchanges were often used for secure storage—gold bullion, documents, you name it. There’s a weight to the building that you just don't feel in a Marriott or a Hilton. It feels permanent.
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How to Actually Get a Deal Here
Since the Mining Exchange Wyndham Grand Hotel caters heavily to the corporate crowd, the prices fluctuate wildly. If there’s a mining conference in town (ironic, right?), you’re going to pay a fortune. But if you look at weekend stays or the "shoulder" seasons in Brisbane (like late April or October), you can often snag a suite for the price of a standard room at a much lesser hotel.
You should also check the Wyndham Rewards portal. A lot of people forget that Wyndham has a massive loyalty program because they associate it with budget motels in the US. In Australia, the "Grand" properties are the crown jewels of that system, and you can often burn points here for incredible value.
Actionable Steps for Your Visit
If you're planning to stay at or even just visit the Mining Exchange, do these three things to make the most of it:
- Request a High-Floor Corner Suite: The Elizabeth Street views are iconic, but the higher you go, the more you escape the street noise while keeping those massive windows.
- Look Up in the Lobby: Don't just rush to the desk. The ceiling work and the transition between the original stone and the modern glass atriums is a masterclass in architectural blending.
- Explore the "Secret" Lanes: The hotel is surrounded by some of Brisbane's best "laneway" culture. Instead of eating in the hotel every night, wander out the back toward Gresham Lane for some of the best coffee and small bars in the city.
The Mining Exchange Wyndham Grand Hotel isn't just a place to sleep. It’s a survivor. In a city that has a bad habit of tearing down its history to build glass towers, this building stands as a reminder of a time when Brisbane was the frontier of a global gold boom. Whether you're there for the heritage or just a very comfortable bed, you're stepping into a piece of Queensland's soul.