ALH is forging ahead with ambitious capitalisation plans, having submitted application to add a 30-storey hotel and residential tower above the historic Morrison Hotel.
Australian Leisure & Hospitality (ALH) is the hospitality arm of listed Endeavour Group, which holds the pub operator, with 350 hotels, and major retail chains BWS and Dan Murphy’s.
Many of ALH’s pub properties occupy large blocks of land in key locations, such as the Morrison, on Brisbane’s arterial Stanley Street, and many of the sites are prime for redevelopment.
Making good on its strategy previously outlined to investors, ALH has adopted a focus on property development, looking to leverage its massive retail and hospitality portfolio. This is a counterpoint to recent closures by Endeavour, at Shingleback Wines and soon to be at its Oakridge winery restaurant, which were in response to lacklustre revenue, following changing consumer habits and cost-of-living pressures.
The heritage-listed Morrison was built in 1927, to replace the razed Britannia Hotel, which was built following by the demolition of the first hotel on the site, the Duke of Cornwall.
Acquired in 2002, ALH plans to refurbish the historic Woolloongabba pub, bringing a new space in the basement, a restaurant on the upper level and an expanded beer garden. There will also be tower, containing five levels of accommodation and 18 floors of residential, bringing 245 units.
ALH notes it has no intention of becoming a residential developer and intends to collaborate on what is cited as a $250 million investment, as it plans more housing and hotel rooms in the lead-up to the Olympics.
“We have submitted a Development Application (DA) for the Morrison Hotel for consideration and are currently awaiting approval,” says an Endeavour Group spokesperson.
“Once we receive approval, we will then move forward with seeking partners.”
Behind and beyond the rejuvenated Hotel, the tower will contain 140 hotel suites, a mix of one- and two-bedroom apartments, and assorted amenities, including dining spaces, meeting rooms, a theatre and a pool. The tower will be accessible via Jacob Lane.
The large-scale project comes since the Queensland government’s announcement in 2022 of a Priority Development Area covering a 106-hectare area, spanning Kangaroo Point, parts of Brisbane, and Woolloongabba, where the Morrison resides. The policy aims to unlock more high-density development in the area around the under-construction Woolloongabba Cross River Rail Station.
Queensland is arguably ALH’s biggest market, with around a third of the portfolio, and the group has previously benefited already from renewal projects, such as its $30 million redevelopment of The Brook, and takeover at Manly Hotel, prior to $7 million works.
Brisbane’s Morrison is one of ten sites ALH has earmarked for DAs this year. In Sydney it hopes to build another 140-room hotel at the Forest Hotel in Frenchs Forest and rework the Castle Hill Tavern, and in Melbourne there are plans for the Doncaster Hotel, and more accommodation and apartments at the site of the Dan Murphy’s in Camberwell.
But kick-starting the initiatives, Endeavour group property director Matthew Toohey says the Morrison will be “next level” and they hope for completion in time for the 2032 Olympic Games.
“We understand there is considerable interest in the future of this iconic venue, and we are excited about the potential to enhance its offering for the local community and visitors alike.”
