After a meticulous fourteen-month restoration, Bunbury’s iconic Rose Hotel was recognised late last year at the 2025 WA Heritage Awards, where it was awarded Western Australia’s top heritage honours.
External heritage restoration works on the façade, masonry and balcony were carefully carried out over months to the tune of $3 million.
The 160-year-old landmark had witnessed much of the city’s history, from people assembling to watch the marching of troops during the World Wars, to thousands dancing in the streets on New Year’s Eve since the early 1900s, with the Bunbury Band leading celebrations from the second floor.
More recently, the pub’s balcony was the focal point for the beginning of each Christmas season, as the mayor turned on the area’s Christmas lights to the cheers of locals.
Now restored, the hotel is excited to welcome people back to celebrate on the balcony.
Manager Mat Jeffrey said he is looking forward to seeing the venue’s spectacular balcony space contribute to the city’s events, and is working with the City of Bunbury to determine the most beneficial community use for the next generation of residents.
A week prior to winning this prestigious award, the hotel won two awards at the 2025 Australian Hotels Association WA Hospitality Awards for Excellence: WA’s Best Regional Hospitality Venue and Casual Pub Dining Award Regional.
The Hotel is part of LocalsCo, which itself won WA’s Best Group Venue Operator at the AHA WA awards, while three of the Rose Hotel’s sister venues were also recognised.
LocalsCo specialises in historic pub restoration and operates The Rose Hotel, the Exchange Hotel in Kalgoorlie, Eaton Tavern, Treendale Farm Hotel, the Bayswater Hotel & Motel and the Subiaco Hotel.
Owners of LocalsCo Lawson Douglas and Dave Allan, purchased The Rose in 2015, immediately renovating internally before preparing for the restoration works over the following decade.
Allan said it was a great honour to have led the restoration.
“The Rose is one of WA’s most important heritage buildings so throughout 10 years of planning and though every step of the restoration, the LocalsCo team strived to ensure the heritage of the hotel was preserved and strengthened,” he said.
Works included removing the supporting structure to the balcony before re-engineering and reinstating it; recasting heritage columns and repairing decorative iron works.
Decades of paint was removed from the external walls before stonemasons tuck-pointed each brick and refilled joints with mortar.
During this process, builders uncovered a ghost sign etched into the original façade.
Building and facilities manager, Brad Italiano, said it was an amazing find.
“When it became obvious it was the original “Rose Hotel” sign, we knew we had to retain it,” he said.
Throughout this process, the restoration team had been too focused on the work to consider entering the WA Heritage Awards – until they saw the end result.
“To see The Rose recognised with WA’s top heritage honour is something we are immensely proud of in what has been an incredible year for Bunbury’s much loved venue,” Italiano continued.
The restoration was undertaken by heritage refurbishment specialists Colgan Industries and was assisted by a $100k Heritage Council of WA grant.
