In the latest sector-bumping transaction, the Feros’ JDA Collective has sold the large-format The Peakhurst to Simon Meers’ resurgent Sonnel Hospitality.
JDA Collective is siblings John and Dean Feros and Alexandra Henderson, nee Feros, who hail from the Hurstville area.
In late 2016, recognising it as one of the leading hospitality destinations in the George’s River region, they paid John Singleton and Geoff Dixon’s Australian Pub Fund around $22 million for the big suburban pub, taking over operations from Riversdale.
JDA executed a major renovation in 2020, presenting a full-service hotel with a modern sports bar, strong food and beverage offering, large kids’ play area, gaming operation with 30 EGMs, 11 hotel rooms and onsite parking.
The 5,800sqm site holds a prominent position on arterial Forest Road and retains a late-trading licence. Active in community activations it has built a loyal following in Peakhurst and the surrounding ‘burbs of Oatley, Hurstville and beyond.
The Feros family has held pubs in the region for many years, and was reluctant to let it go.
“Any time you sell a venue you’ve owned for a long time, there’s an emotional element to it,” says JDA CEO John Feros.
“We’re incredibly proud of what has been achieved at The Peakhurst and the strong connection it has with the local community.
“It’s hard to say goodbye, but we’re pleased to be passing the venue on to Sonnel Hospitality and know they’ll continue the legacy that’s been built there.”
JDA Collective retains hotels across Victoria, Queensland and NSW, and has been reshuffling the collection to shape where it sees opportunity.
This has brought acquisition of the Crystal Palace Hotel for about $35 million from veteran Jimmy Galanakis in early 2025, and the Northside Hotel in Albury from Harvest Hospitality later in the year for about $27 million.
Most recently JDA paid circa $70 million for the Bexley North Hotel, just minutes from Peakhurst, from the multi-generational Yang family.
Sonnel have now paid around $60 million for The Peakhurst, previously known as the Peakhurst Inn, with settlement due in July.
Led by Simon Meers, the past two years have seen Sonnel Hospitality expand its executive and operational capability, investing heavily to support its growing portfolio across staff, operations and venue development.
Holding a diverse portfolio and laying claim to the biggest pub sale in Australian history, paying $160 million for the Crossroads Hotel in Casula in 2022, the group touts a strong pipeline of redevelopment opportunities and acquisition targets and says it is well positioned for continued growth across metropolitan Sydney “and key metro markets nationally”.
Most recently expanding with the landmark Firehouse Hotel in North Sydney, the group says The Peakhurst is a natural fit within the growing stable and well suited to their plans for well-balanced destination venues.
“Peakhurst Hotel is exactly the type of all occasion venue we look for when considering opportunities to grow the Sonnel portfolio,” says CEO Tim Fitzgerald.
“It already plays an important role within the local community and has a strong foundation across food and beverage, accommodation and entertainment.
“What excites us most is the opportunity to build on that foundation and continue evolving the venue in a way that reflects what local guests want from their local pub.”
Already surpassing the heady results of 2025, the market has seen a plethora of big-ticket sales as buyers have reportedly “remained increasingly active” throughout the first half of 2026.
“Transaction volumes are up on the same period last year, despite well-documented headwinds both domestically and abroad,” notes HTL Property’s Dan Dragicevich, who managed the sale with colleague Andrew Jolliffe.
“This activity underscores the resilient investment fundamentals of a robust industry, which continues to attract strategic capital in any cycle.”
