Welcome to STUDIO 1201
Welcome to Studio 1201 on the Townsville Strand. Aquarius on the Beach is fortunate to be the only high-rise building along the foreshore.
Construction began in 1966 and the landmark 14-story hotel opened its doors as The Travelodge, in 1973. Today it is a mix of hotel and strata living.
Studio 1201 was extensively renovated in 2013 and awarded ‘highly commended’ in the Australian Institute of Architects awards.
‘The Travelodge’ under construction c1969
We very much hope you enjoy your stay -
Josh & the Barnes family.
@ Studio 1201
Arriving
CHECK-IN – From 2pm & checkout is 10:00am unless otherwise arranged
PARKING – There is free parking in the back of the building. This is on a first come first served basis
LOCK BOX – The key can be found in our dedicated lockbox on the northern side of the building. See lockbox instructions on last page
KEY – The key is a simple access card. Downstairs is locked when the hotel reception is closed 8am – 5pm, so carry your fob
RECEPTION – We are not part of the Hotel so please don’t use the hotel reception just call me instead – 0406 088 233
A/C – air-conditioning controls on wall near mirror. Please turn off when you leave the apartment & don’t adjust settings. Auto-off 12pm each day
WI-FI – Belong20AFE2
Password: 1201wifi!
Lockbox Instructions
Step 1 - Location
The lockbox is in a maroon electricity box on the northern side of the building, just beyond front door.
Step 2 - Lock Box
The bottom right lock box is ours
Step 3 - The Code
Set to the code provided & depress the lever. Pull open to access fob. Please close the lockbox and mix the code again.
near Studio 1201
Eat & Drink
Within walking distance…
WATERMARK – next door for great steaks & takeaway pizza!
SHOP 6 – amazing homemade pasta – worth a visit!
JULIETTES – serious coffee & good gelati
RAW ENERGY – breaky, bowls & juice
BALABITE – Mediterranean street food near Coles
SHOREHOUSE – tapas and cocktails on beach - a fav!
SPIRITED GOAT – Great service, wine & food – higher end
SEAVIEW HOTEL – art deco pub with beer garden
City side…
HOI POLLOI – interesting laneway café in old building
MJ & CO – espresso bar under ‘Sugarshaker’ building
SHAW & CO – Steakhouse – Burger is 10/10!
TOUCH OF SALT – higher end dinner on Ross Ck.
WAYNE & ADELES GARDEN OF EATING – unique local experience
THE BREWERY – drink local beer in old Post Office
PALMER ST – lots of other eating venues including Australian Hotel, Jam Corner, Simply Tops Seafood Bar, Ribs & Rumps
Please let us know your favourites in your review
near Studio 1201
Local Tips
MAGNETIC ISLAND – has regular ferries and many ways to explore this magical granite island
COTTERS MARKET – Sunday mornings in Flinders Street East (city)
PALUMA – drive north to Crystal Creek & Paluma rainforest. Stunning clear waterholes and a beautiful windy road to get there.
ALLIGATOR CREEK – another stunning waterhole 20 minutes to the south of town. In drier times, I probably wouldn’t recommend
KISSING POINT – walk north – historic site and living museum for army and Indigenous life
CASTLE HILL – feel like a big walk? Drive to Hillside Crescent for trailhead to Castle Hill track
TOBRUK BATHS – walk south along Strand – beautiful art deco pool used for Olympics training in 1950’s/60’s
QUEENS GARDENS – local & stunning botanic gardens – just a short walk from The Aquarius, via Kennedy Street
WHATS ON IN TOWNSVILLE? – check out the gig guides at
Cooking
@ Studio 1201
The kitchen is compact but well equipped! Please keep windows open
when cooking to avoid fire alarm and cooking odours.
COOKTOP
step 1 - main switch in cupboard to left of sink
step 2 - press the ‘key’ button
step 3 - set the temperature – 9 is the highest
SUPPLIES
The kitchen is well equipped with the essential pots/pans/knives/ crockery.
There’s even a cast iron pot! We leave Olive Oil/salt/pepper etc – let me know if supplies are low
WASHING UP
There’s a washing up draining rack under the sink
COFFEE MACHINE
There's a Nespresso Pod machine situated below end-window. We leave a small supply of pods and UHT milk
BBQ
Electric BBQ on balcony has two elements. Currently, only the one on the western/back side works. Please, no marinades on the grill
FIRE ALARM
If fire alarm is triggered, the cost is the guests’ responsibility. Fees determined by Qld Fire Department
Bathroom
@ Studio 1201
One of my favourite parts of the apartment it is when the afternoon sun, illuminates the bathroom. As for the toilet in the shower… What was the architect thinking? Perhaps imagine you are on a boat!
BEHIND THE MIRROR – you will find the power-points, first aid kit, extra toilet paper etc. There’s a large microfibre cloth if floors extra wet. The hairdryer is in the drawer on the right.
GLASS BATHROOM DOORS - Please move the glass bathroom doors slowly. If pushed too far, the shower door can move off its guide
EXHAUST FAN - The exhaust fan is always on
Entertainment
@ Studio 1201
The second cupboard under the long bench has an amplifier that is connected to four speakers in the ceiling. There’s even a speaker with separate volume controls, in the kitchen and bathroom!
AMPLIFIER - turns on through the bottom left power button then there’s a second ‘stand-by’ switch’. Please make sure you turn off when finished as cupboard gets VERY hot
RADIO - turn ‘input’ dial to radio
PHONE/IPOD - turn ‘input’ dial to CD and connect your phone or MP3 player to the mini-jack cable
TV – it’s a SMART TV, so you can connect to your NETFLIX/YOUTUBE accounts
WI-FI – Belong20AFE2 Password: 1201wifi!
Handy Hints
@ Studio 1201
AIR CONDITIONING – Please do not adjust settings. To save power, it is set to automatically turn off at 12PM daily. Please reactivate as needed
PASSIVE COOLING –Try opening the little side window & kitchen for cross-ventilation - There’s NASA standard insulation in the wall - really!
LIGHTING – Some of the lighting is duel-switched.
IRONING BOARD – hidden in left hand drawer on long bench
FOLDING TABLE – there’s a folding table in the outside locker
CLEANING - Broom in balcony cupboard if you need to sweep floors
BIFOLD DOORS - please close when leaving unit for any long period
SMOKING – Smoking zone in carpark – look for shadecloth covered area
POOL - Pool towels in cupboard. Don’t forget your access card!
BIRDS – Birds have been pooing on the outside– hence cactus & cats!
Safety
@ Studio 1201
FIRST AID – For a Fire, Medical and Police emergency dial 000. The Address is 75 The Strand – Aquarius on the Beach
STINGERS – beware of stingers Nov. to May. Swim in stringer enclosures
SAFETY - Never play on the front balcony. Never throw any object over the edge or out the window. Please abide by the by-laws and rules of the Hotel - https://www.aquariusonthebeach.com.au/guestinformation.html
EMERGENCY EVACUATION - Please follow Hotel instructions - evacuation card on back door. Josh: 0406088233 Helen: 0404833410
Departing
@ Studio 1201
The golden rule is to leave the studio similar to how you found it.
We’d be grateful if you could please note the following:
CHECKLIST
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please turn the air-conditioning off
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close the doors and windows
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wash dishes – if you are feeling generous, place back on shelf
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please hang up towels
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place access card back in the lockbox
RUBBISH
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for short stays and minimal rubbish, please leave in bins provided
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for longer stays, all refuse to be placed in the industrial bin in the carpark at the back of the building
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if you’ve enjoyed more than a few drinks, please take bottles down. I apologise but there’s no recycling at this stage
Thank you again for staying at Studio 1201
Backstory
@ Studio 1201
In case you are wondering whose house you are staying in…
I was born in Townsville in 1978. My mother is from Proserpine and my father from Brisbane. They moved here in 1972 as a young married couple, fell in love with the tropics and never left!
My stomping ground is right here too. My high school can be seen through the back windows of the hotel and my family home on the foothills of Castle Hill. But I left home when I was 17 to explore the world.
I now live in Darwin, having lived in Vancouver, Newcastle, Sydney & Katoomba... I bought Studio 1201 in 2020 when my parents needed a place for cancer respite, and I needed a corner of home.
I am an environmental scientist and educator by trade – an entrepreneur and designer by passion. I had my first landscaping business, age 17 and rebuilt a rusty old- shed in the Blue Mountains out of found materials. It became my first Airbnb property and in fact took me on an all-expenses trip to Paris. I now run a design consultancy called ‘Olive & Pink’.
It brings me much happiness to share Studio 1201 with you.
Travel well – Josh