The august Captain Stirling Hotel of Nedlands, cornerstone of the new Woolworths Nedlands Square, is available for the first time in a quarter century.
Occupying a high-profile corner site on the Stirling Highway, the two-storey Hotel is said to be the “heart and soul” of the Nedlands community.
It was constructed in 1935 for the colourful Senator Bertie Johnston, designed by architects George Herbert Parry and Marshall Clifton, incorporating a sports bar, accommodation and restaurant.
In 1997 the Australian Heritage Commission entered it into the National Estate, followed a year later by classification at the National Trust.
The heritage-listed Captain will form part of Woolworths’ wider Nedlands Square town centre development, approved in February.
Part of the ‘golden triangle’, bordered by some of Perth’s most affluent suburbs, the three-level development will transform the site, slated to bring a modern Woolworths supermarket and BWS, restaurants and cafes, and specialty tenancies in fitness, medical and services. Due for completion in 2025, the Square is expected to employ around 150 people.
For the past 25 years the pub has been leased to Endeavour’s pub arm, ALH, but this will conclude at the end of December. Construction on the Square is set to begin in the new year.
Woolworths is seeking a new operator for the Captain, as it looks to make the location a retail and hospitality precinct.
“The Captain Stirling Hotel is a well-known establishment and as a heritage-listing, presents its own distinct character,” notes Woolworths’ David Warren.
“It’s rare for these types of venues to become available and, coupled with an upcoming revitalisation of the wider site, the new venue should go from strength to strength.”
A sale campaign on the operation is being managed by Inside:Out Retail Property’s Pieter Haverhoek, who says they are welcoming experienced hoteliers.
“We see the leasing of the pub as a key anchor tenant on which to base the curation of tenants for the project.
“The pub needs to be redeveloped to meet the centre development and the customer.”
The leasehold interest is being sold via Expressions of Interest, closing Saturday, 15 July.
A spokesperson for Woolworths said they are not in a position to share lease details at this stage.
