The pride of Taralga is being sold, in the southern tablelands, as its Sydney-based owner looks to focus closer to home.
Built 1876, the Taralga Hotel is the only pub on the town’s main street. Occupying a 3,230sqm block, on the ground floor it counts a single operation bar, lounge/sports area, 80-seat bistro and beer garden, and upstairs there are seven pub-style accommodation rooms plus a large two-bedroom self-contained manager’s residence.
To the rear is a rebuilt stone cottage that could suit an extended trading area, such as a whiskey distillery or craft brewery, and the surrounding gardens provide plenty of room to expand, potentially adding amenity or specifically capitalising on trade such as country weddings, glamping or short-stay caravan facilities.
Taralga is a picturesque town located in the upper Lachlan shire, less than two hundred kilometres southwest of Sydney. It offers picturesque scenery and boasts a rich history and strong sense of community, hosting an assortment of events and festivals, such as the Taralga Agricultural Show, dating back to 1885.
The pub reports revenue just north of $1 million for FY23, with roughly 40 per cent coming from both food and beverage, as well as takeaway sales and accommodation. It welcomes a collection of local sporting bodies, who regularly come for functions, meetings and after game events.
Locals form the bulk of trade, but there is consistent patronage from travellers, frequently bike and car clubs from around the state, grey nomads and weekend warriors armed with outdoor gear and plans for adventure.
Sales literature suggests there is upside to be had in better marketing toward weekend visitors.
The Taralga is owned by Phil Anderson’s Rum Rebellion Hospitality Group (RRHG), having purchased it from Mick Peters – brother to Nicholas Peters, also a hotelier, who owns a number of pubs and butchery business Peters Meats.
RRHG also own the Sneaky Possum, in Chippendale, and the Taralga pub is operated under remote management. Anderson is eager to divest, to return his focus to Sydney and spend more time with his wife.
The property is being sold with all fixtures and fittings in a campaign through Cabmon Property’s Peter Seeto in conjunction with Southern Land Properties’ David Lyons.
“The Taralga Hotel is nestled amongst a beautiful, affluent country escarpment and is a fine example of a ‘true-blue’ country pub,” says Seeto.
“Phil has done a great job in providing locals a community meeting point and tourists a great place to stop.”
The Taralga Hotel freehold going concern is being sold via public auction, due to take place Friday, 15 September.
