Corporate high flyer Bryam Johnston and his wife Deborah are the latest high net worth-ers to take a stake in the on-flavour pub market, buying Lithgow’s popular Tarana Hotel.
Known by locals as ‘The Na’ the Tarana was built in 1873 as the Railway Hotel, servicing travellers traversing the Blue Mountains. It provides a welcoming public bar adorned with historic memorabilia, bistro and outdoor area, with no gaming.
Byram Johnston was co-founder and former CEO of funds administrator Mainstream Group, and guided its $415 million sale last year to Apex Group. He was awarded an Order of Australia in 2004 for services to the accounting, medical research and motor sport industries.
Deborah and Byram Johnston live in Sydney, but own a cattle farm near Tarana and recently also bought the Tarana Village Café, opposite the pub, and say they know “the district and the people”.
In the spirit of country icons such as the Birdsville Hotel, Bryam looks to The Na’s long and colourful history and believes its secret is in its authenticity as a local.
“Our focus will be on supporting the community, and we see the Tarana Hotel as an integral part of that community,” says Bryam.
Vendors on the sale were Kaz and Mark Moyes, who over the past six years of operations have built a strong business catering to the locals and procession of weekend travellers.
The Moyes will continue to run the daily operations in the immediate future, while the Johnstons execute plans to expand the food and wine offering and regularly host events. The business stands to benefit from the ongoing restoration of nearby railway buildings, and the active Tarana Valley Community Group.
“We plan to operate the Hotel in this vein and strengthen what is already there – a lively, family-friendly destination,” adds Deborah.
“For us, the Tarana Hotel is as much about the strong, local community as it is the weekend visitors.”
