By John Tozer

I was employed as Construction Manager for the Hotel from late December 1987 until its opening in 1988. I attended the official opening by Gough Whitlam and John Gorton with my wife Kerry in 1988. I have many stories about the Hotel during its construction during this period and many of the major changes carried out since.

During the pre-opening stage of the Hyatt Hotel there was a prototype room set up in the original northern facing rooms. This room was fully fitted with everything, including mini-bar contents and all linen, towels, bath-robes etc. The room was strictly off-limits to all construction staff, as was the original heritage areas of the hotel including The Tea Lounge.

This access rule continued unrelentingly until one day in January 1988, when it was relaxed for one day to allow the tradesmen who had left - contrary to instruction - tools in various places to recover their items. This included the prototype room.

Unbeknownst to me, one of my teammates had decided to take a little bath in the said prototype room, leaving behind a packet of cigarettes, chocolate wrappers, a wet towel and a rather obvious soap ring. I can still hear the head of housekeeping roaring. All attempts to find the grinning tradie proved fruitless.

Another memory that comes to mind, and a myth I’d like to correct, is about the Jarrah floorboards.

While many believe the existing floorboard to be original, I must confess that they lay hidden.

After two broken ankles and numerous attempts at patching the originals, I deemed the cause futile - the floorboards would have to go. However, due to heritage requirements I was not allowed to remove the originals and so the only solution was to leave them in place and put new boards over the top as an exact replica - mistakes and all! We must have done a good job, as to this day I still hear about the floorboards being "the originals".

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