50-YEAR OWNERS SELL SUBIACO TO LOCALS

After 50 years in the same hands, Perth icon the Subiaco Hotel has been bought by dynamic local publicans Dave Allan and Lawson Douglas.

Michael and Judy Monaghan acquired the historic pub business in the late 60s, and bought into a quarter share of the freehold in 1990.

Over the decades they transformed it from being a modest local to a well-known frontrunner, seeing it through a major transformation in 1994 to become Perth’s first gastro pub, and an even larger renovation in 2014, shoring structural elements and reshaping the interior. 

Looking to retirement, the couple sent it to market in June through JLL Hotels’ Sean Flynn and Nicholas Agapitos, and Richard Noble & Co’s Alex Gregg and Peter Trinh.

Showing revival from the state’s economic lull, with a raft of new projects in the area, the long-time owners said they believe “a resurgence” is in the air for Subiaco.

Allan and Douglas already own two acclaimed Western Australian pubs, which have both seen major sympathetic restorations at their hands.

The Rose Hotel in Bunbury took the AHA WA Award for Redeveloped Venue of the Year in 2017, and their Exchange Hotel in Kalgoorlie was runner-up this year in the WA Heritage Awards, for Conservation or Adaptive Reuse of a State Registered Place.

The partners have some history with the Subiaco pub, and its purchase aligns with their plans.

“Dave and I have shared some great times at the Subi in our younger days and we have had our eye on it for a long time,” says Douglas.

“It’s an ideal fit with our business model of refreshing iconic heritage hotels so they can again become vibrant, integral parts of their local communities.”

The two-storey Victorian-style hotel was built in the gold rush days of 1897 by the Stanley Brewery Company, and the freehold was still majority owned by families who acquired it from the Brewery more than a century ago.

Allan and Douglas’ purchase, due to settle mid-October, includes the outright freehold, and the pair have slated more considered works.

“Like the Rose Hotel and the Exchange Hotel, the Subiaco Hotel is a much-loved local institution with a long, rich history, and we are proud to become only the second owners of the property and continue the tradition of one of Perth’s favourite pubs,” added Allan.

“We don’t plan to make significant changes, other than enhancing what is there and ensuring our offering is in line with the market.”

Subiaco Mayor Penny Taylor believes the sale is a positive for the region.

“The iconic building has been part of our community for such a long time, and it’s great to see the experienced new owners are keen to be part of our thriving business community.

“This sale is another sign of business confidence in Subiaco.”