The stalwart Gurr family of Armidale have sold their local institution, the Whitebull Hotel, to the family operation of hotelier Jim Knox.
Located in the heart of Armidale’s retail precinct, the Whitebull Hotel is a prize of the New England region. Its sale for $13.25 million is said to be a record for the city of more than 23,000 residents.
Built 1886, the stately two-storey brick structure sports a generous balcony overlooking arterial Marsh Street.
It has enjoyed a comprehensive recent renovation by the Gurrs, bringing a revised operation with clever layout and broad appeal.
A traditional bar and old-world lounge area feature beautifully restored fireplaces, while the sports bar provides TVs, TAB and Keno facilities. The opulent Steakhouse, with its open kitchen, is a mix of old and new, while the rope room offers both high and low seating for a casual dining experience.
The tasteful overhaul has achieved a big reaction with the locals, with the pub reportedly busy every night.
Jim Knox and family hold a collection of NSW pubs, in Griffith, and more recently in Grafton.
Knox Hotels will take over in late August, following settlement, representing the Gurrs exit from the game.
But staples of the town, the Gurr family DNA will remain, and patriarch Pat Gurr will likely appear on the other side of the bar from time to time, as it transitions from one family to another.
“This is clearly not a typical outcome, but is one that best illustrates the quality of people involved in the transaction,” notes HTL Property’s Blake Edwards, who managed the transaction.
“Pat and Karen’s two sons, Ben and Tom, will stay on in the business and help drive the best outcomes for the new owner.”
HTL director Dan Dragicevich notes that regional hotel assets have kept pace with metro areas, in terms of number of transactions, recording eight significant sales in the past month alone.
