Dan O’Hara and his gun chef(s) are about to revamp Parramatta’s Collector Hotel, after taking the keys this week.
The Collector resides in a Western Sydney University building, in booming Parramatta. The leasehold business boasts the unusual benefit of retaining its 24-hour licence and 30 EGMs, in one of the country’s strongest gaming LGAs.
It came to market last November, with agents Daniel Dragicevich of CBRE and Gerry Quinlan of Manenti Quinlan tipping its “variety of options” to appeal to a range of potential buyers.
While the final sale price was not revealed, there were reportedly numerous offers beyond the asking price, based on the market value of the licence and gaming machines, approaching $6m.
The O’Hara Group already operates several pubs in Sydney and wider NSW, including the much-awarded Fairfield Hotel and more recently the Central, in Blacktown. These pubs both incorporate a ‘Green Peppercorn’ restaurant, fronted by local celebrity chef Tona Inthavong.
Speaking with PubTIC, O’Hara says the Collector will see Tona teaming up with two as-yet unrevealed contestants from “a very high-profile TV cooking show” for an all-new restaurant concept.
“We’re very excited about the project,” said O’Hara.
“There’s a lot of development earmarked for the area, and we are happy to now be part of a great community that’s growing exponentially.”
Atop its potential in one of Australia’s most development-intensive precincts, the Collector holds an approved DA that O’Hara says they are going to action “as soon as possible”. This will see construction of a new TAB and sports lounge area, and new alfresco gaming room for the pub, which at #333 on the L&G list of NSW venues, is somewhat under-performing for the area*.
Leading the charge in Sydney’s surging property market, Parramatta is slated to see a further $8bn of commercial and residential development in the next five years.
*Parramatta has a number of pubs inside the top 200. Tollgate Hotel #33, PJ’s #119, Albion #141, Commercial #150, Rose & Crown #177, Woolpack #180
