Harvest Hotels has recently unveiled two of its latest redevelopments – The Milestone Hotel in Dubbo, and The Old Pub Woy Woy.
Harvest’s current portfolio encompasses 13 pubs across NSW and SA, with The Milestone and The Old Pub being two out of five redeveloped in the past year.
They join the William Farrer Hotel in Wagga, Northside Hotel in Albury, and super pub Aussie Inn in Adelaide.
Acquired by Harvest almost four years ago, The Milestone reopened late last year following a six-week refurbishment.
The 144-year-old corner pub saw its ground-floor bottleshop removed to make way for a brand new bar and expanded bistro area, along with new furniture, fixtures and equipment.
Michael Munro, Harvest Group’s executive chef, revamped the menu, and pub goers can also enjoy a new lineup of entertainment and activities each week.
Designer Fraser Haughton, Harvest Hotels co-founder and chief development officer, made a strong assessment of the local market prior to the development.
“There’s plenty of great, large format pubs in Dubbo, but what makes The Milestone unique is its prime location and features like the heritage façade and sandstone chambers.
“We wanted to draw from these elements to create a pub with distinctive character – part classic corner pub, part freshly transformed venue – that can now take its place as everyone’s favourite new local,” he said.
Similarly, 128-year-old The Old Pub, in Woy Woy, has received its own sympathetic makeover.
With an emphasis on retaining its historic charm, the $7 million dollar renovation included retention of the original timber cladding and restoration of its cornice detailing, both completed by local architects Fabric.
The venue also boasts a revamped, oversized beer garden, which overlooks a new kids’ playground. Its public bar has been restored, and a sports bar and bistro have been added.
Both the fresh blues and whites of its reimagined colour palette and its new seafood-inspired menu reflect Woy Woy’s history as a fishing village.
General manager Thomas Gurr said that keeping the character of the building, while simultaneously modernising the pub, was critical.
“You couldn’t recreate this character with an all-new build,” he stated.
“The renovation has created unique spaces where you want to spend time with family and friends over a delicious meal. They feel cosy, elevated and distinctly part of Woy Woy.”
