Australian Venue Co. has announced its first post-COVID acquisition, signing on for the long-term lease of the historic Robe Hotel on the South Australian coast.
The heart of the town of Robe, the Hotel will be AVC’s newest oldest pub, taking over from Melbourne’s Duke of Wellington, founded in 1853, which is Melbourne’s oldest pub.
AVC holds a portfolio of nearly 180 venues across Australia and New Zealand. The Robe joins AVC’s South Australian stable including Brighton Metro Hotel, Hampstead Hotel and The Grand Junction Tavern.
Robe is found 340 kilometres south-east of Adelaide, or about 500 north-west of Melbourne. The area was sighted in 1802 – long before South Australia was a State – and frequented by whalers and sailors before the town of Robe was officially established in 1847, named after Major Frederick Holt Robe, Governor of South Australia.
The Robe Hotel was founded in 1847 with the town, offering views overlooking the Southern Ocean. By the 1860s around ten licensed hotels operated in the Robe area.
Built on a spacious 1,985sqm site, the pub consists of front bar with Keno and TAB, a large lounge/dining area seating over 150-pax with new kitchen, the only gaming room in town, counting 20 machines, beer garden and atrium with separate bar, upstairs accommodation of 16 rooms, including eight with ensuites, and a drive-through bottleshop.
AVC expects to settle on the deal late October, predicting a rising market for this style of venue.
“The acquisition allows us to grow our pub footprint in South Australia, and this is a really iconic venue in the state,” says Australian Venue Co. CEO, Paul Waterson.
“In a post-pandemic world, we are expecting that people will value their country and coastal pubs more than ever.
“AVC will continue to acquire hotels in these iconic locations with a view to maintaining their unique coastal feel.”
