A near-forgotten gem of Australian hotel history is to be revived in a $6.5 million redevelopment to transform the Peel region and attract more visitors.
The Exchange Hotel in Pinjarra is said to be one of the oldest pubs in Western Australia, set on the banks of the Murray River in the middle of town, around 80 kilometres south of Perth.
Falling on hard times, it stood derelict for more than a decade before Murray Shire took possession of it in 2012.
It is now being transformed, to become the Peel region’s “most iconic hospitality destination and dining, meeting and entertainment space”.
Karl Bullers has taken on the task to operate the heritage pub and its big revival, planning to install a beer garden overlooking the river, restore the old buildings, and make provision to host functions and events.
The UK-born publican told 6PR he’s aiming to put a big family focus on the place but the target market will be “a bit of everything”, with locals eager for a new watering hole plus the increasing numbers of day-trippers making the drive down from the capital on weekends.
Bullers previously rebuilt the National Hotel, in Freemantle, which before he got involved had stood in a poor state for years, after a fire in 2007.
He is hoping to see the pub reopen “if all goes well” by the end of 2023.
The Exchange Hotel development project has been managed by WA commercial agents Lease Equity, which did not reply to request for comments prior to publication.
