Nathan Dawes’ growing Gateway Hotel Group has notched up another, taking the stoic Henry Rous Tavern in northern NSW.
Ballina is an attractive coastal town of around 47k residents that is geographically the gateway to the popular Byron Bay lifestyle region.
Admiral Henry John Rous (1795-1877) was a British Royal Navy officer who served in the Napoleonic Wars and extensively explored the northern rivers of New South Wales.
His eponymous Tavern stands on a 1,012sqm corner block on arterial River St through town, comprising public bar, bistro, gaming room with 15 machines and offering ample on- and off-street parking.
John Schlederer has owned the property since 2014, at times operating it under lease or management.
Steadily building a boutique hotel group, Nathan Dawes already holds pubs in Kyogle and Tenterfield, joined in 2023 by the Meadowbrook Hotel north of Brisbane, boughtfrom Sydney-based Gallagher Hotels, and more recently his first Sydney establishment, the Alexandria Hotel, snapped up earlier this month ahead of its scheduled auction.
He is understood to have now paid circa $10 million in the sought after northern rivers region, and thanks the vendors for entrusting him as “the new custodian” of the Rous.
“We will continue to be a cornerstone of the community. A traditional pub for families and hardworking Australians,” offers Dawes.
“Ballina is a high growth coastal town, transforming due to its proximity to the now famous Byron Bay.”
Expanding into another prized precinct, Dawes says they will settle in before deciding what needs to be done.
“Our goal is simply great pub grub,” he says. “We plan to listen to locals, and invest, to ensure it stays the best pub in town.”
The off-market deal was brokered by HTL Propety’s Blake Edwards and Xavier Plunkett, who would not provide details on the transaction but suggest it is a verdant time for vendors.
“Stabilized interest rates, robust trade and strengthening valuations are stimulating buyer activity, and consequently are delivering strong liquidity for those of our valuable clients seeking to divest their assets in this market,” remarked Edwards.
