Black Rhino continues its migration into the southern state, roping the adrift Barmera Hotel Motel on popular Lake Bonney.
Dave Tomsic’s group has exchanged on the large-format venue, marking number five in a rapid acquisition plan into South Australia.
Barmera is around two and a half hours’ drive north-east of Adelaide, on beautiful Lake Bonney – considered one of South Australia’s most popular aquatic playgrounds.
The Barmera Hotel Motel occupies a big corner block two blocks from the Lake’s jetty, on the edge of the town’s retail precinct.
It offers four bars, including the Sports Bar and Legends Bar, with TAB and Keno and TVs, Golden Dream gaming room with 32 machines, two restaurants, a kids’ entertainment room, a function room, Liquor Legend’s bottleshop, and accommodation both in the hotel and offsite, at the Lake, totalling 57 rooms. Guests can utilise the swimming pool, barbecue area and off-street parking.
Tomsic says his buying the property was conditional on getting both the business, which had been under lease to three owners for around 15 years and was struggling, and the freehold, held for around 18 years by a half-dozen owners not eager to sell.
After what was a complicated, “messy” process he feared would not eventuate, he was glad to secure the contracts at the end of last week.
“This will be one of my flagships,” says the Black Rhino hotelier.
“It was a no-brainer. There’s nowhere to go. In all Barmera, there’s only the pub, the cricket club and one pizza joint. No restaurant in the whole of Barmera!”
Amid COVID complications hampering inspections, Tomsic hints of several more SA acquisitions in the works.
A Black Rhino manager from Melbourne will be going to live onsite, and the accommodation aspect is seen as key to a thriving opportunity, particularly in regional precincts.
“Hotel rooms are a big add-on,” adds Tomsic.
“I like going to these regional towns, because you do the right thing and it just dominates the town.
“It’s going to be massive.”
