Capping a legacy of more than 30 years, long-time proprietor Cliff Wallis has sold Australia’s highest pub, the Sundeck Hotel, to the Dean family.
The Sundeck is a multiple award-winning hotel built in 1959 and rebuilt after a fire in 1960. It was Perisher Snow Resort’s first hotel, directly on the ski slopes within Kosciuszko National Park at an elevation of 1,769 metres, making the highest in the land, with panoramic views across Front Valley.
An institution of the Australian alpine community, it provides a genuine ‘ski in-ski out’ experience in Perisher Snow Resort, including a popular public bar that features live music, with seating for up to 90 people, and an outdoor courtyard for an additional 60-pax to enjoy après-ski drinks when weather permits.
It also counts 41 rooms, with ensuites, configured for 90 beds, making it the only commercial lodge above the base of the lifts, providing sauna facilities and meal packages served in a traditional alpine-style dining room seating 72 guests.
The Sundeck typically trades only five months a year, from the June to October long weekend, during the snow season. The bulk of revenue is generated through accommodation packages, but the hotel is a well-known destination for events, such as the Peak Music festival, held in June, and the Sundeck Cup cross-country ski race every August.
Perisher is the largest ski resort in the southern hemisphere, located approximately 30 kilometres from Jindabyne, and has seen increased international visitation in recent years following its acquisition by global ski operator Vail Resorts.
Stepping in as tenant to National Parks is hotelier Peter Dean, who is believed to have paid $7.5 million for the Sundeck lease, running until 2057, including options.
Peter and his wife Kate formed a consortium – with part ownership by father-in-law Jamie Couche, proprietor of Sydney’s famous Lord Dudley Hotel – that operated then sold the Burrawang Village Hotel, in 2025. He previously also owned the Royal Hotel at Bowral.
Sale of the Sundeck was through Manenti Quinlan’s Leonard Bongiovanni and Ray Larkin in conjunction with Forbes Stynes Prestige Property Sales’ Michelle Stynes and Alex Cherry. Agents report potential buyers were attracted to both its past and potential.
“There was strong interest from buyers who recognised both the history of the venue and the opportunity to continue building on its reputation as one of the Snowy Mountains’ most distinctive hospitality experiences,” notes Bongiovanni.
