Changing Times

THE HAVEY HAS A NEW LOOK AT 150

Posted on June 16th, 2023 by Clyde Mooney
Celebrating its sesquicentennial, the historic General Havelock has reopened, following restorations giving it a new lease on life. Popularly known as the ‘Havey’, the Hotel was established in 1873, named in honour of Major General Sir Henry Havelock, who led

RIVERSIDE REVITALISED AFTER RENOVATION

Posted on May 31st, 2023 by Jane Louise
Riverland, a popular waterfront bar and kitchen on Brisbane’s Eagle Street Pier, opened for its big reveal on Monday 22 May. Owners and veterans of pub revitalisation Australian Venue Co had spent $3.5 million on this latest project, including extending

THE BROOK IS BACK, AND BETTER

Posted on May 26th, 2023 by Clyde Mooney
Australian Leisure & Hospitality has ramped up its investment in the Sunshine State, reopening the Brook Hotel in Mitchelton after a massive redevelopment costing nearly $31 million. Set on a massive site on an arterial corner of Osbourne Road in

LOCAL HERO STEPS INTO GOLDEN SPURS

Posted on May 19th, 2023 by Clyde Mooney
Local mum Jasmine Turner is the talk of the town of Proston, after reviving its beloved watering hole, the Golden Spurs Hotel. Proston is a classic Queensland municipality, located around 300 kilometres north-west of Brisbane, counting local population of around

BERNIE’S BAR – THE NEW STAR OF NEWCASTLE

Posted on May 17th, 2023 by Clyde Mooney
Newcastle’s legendary Star Hotel has reopened to welcome the LGBTQ+ community, a century in the making, as Bernie’s Bar.  Partners Patrick Fisher, Kitt Nissen and Hollie 'Gracie' Tose had a concept for a queer-friendly bar in Steel City. After talking

METROPOLITAN MACKAY’S NEW OUTLOOK

Posted on May 15th, 2023 by Clyde Mooney
The latest pub to benefit from Australian Venue Co’s ongoing major investment in Queensland is the Metropolitan Hotel in Mackay, which has reopened after a $1.6 million renovation and positioning as the city’s new social and entertainment hub. The makeover

DOCTOR REVIVES DARK BLACK SWAN

Posted on April 21st, 2023 by Clyde Mooney
The historic Black Swan Hotel of Bendigo officially re-opened Easter Saturday, after six years in the dark and the inspired vision of an enthusiast. A social centrepiece of Bendigo for decades, holding a rare 5am licence, the Swan shut the

AVC UNVEILS THE NEW THE CLUB

Posted on April 19th, 2023 by Clyde Mooney
AVC has furthered its Queensland quest, unveiling the reworked The Club Hotel at Gladstone, equipped with a modern sports bar, bistro and all-weather beer garden. Doors to The Club reopened 13 April, following a $2.8 million renovation led by Kingston

CUMBERLAND CLOSES AMID CONTROVERSY

Posted on April 14th, 2023 by Clyde Mooney
The venerable Cumberland Hotel in regional Victoria has closed under a cloud, as doubt forms around the outcry of homophobia by the departing publican. Built circa 1860, the Cumberland is thought to be the oldest weatherboard pub in the state

CY O’CONNOR DOES THE PHOENIX

Posted on April 12th, 2023 by Clyde Mooney
Western institution the CY O’Connor pub has triumphantly reopened, with more to come, after a fire destroyed it two years ago. News emerged mid-2021 that the CY O'Connor Village Pub in Piara Waters, a suburb of south Perth, had been