Glenn Piper’s rebranded Epochal Hotels has announced its acquisition of the Scarborough Hotel from media tycoon Bruce Gordon.
The heritage-listed hotel resides on 3,904sqm, on a cliff edge of the Illawarra escarpment, showcasing an expansive outdoor area with unparalleled views.
It was built 1886, making it the oldest licensed premise in the City of Wollongong, and a jewel of the Illawarra landscape, with a rich, storied history.
Media veteran and billionaire Bruce Gordon, based in Bermuda, owns the WIN Television network, and is the largest shareholder of Nine Entertainment.
Sale of the pub marks the first time it has changed hands in four decades, as well as Gordon’s exit from the game.
WIN Corporation put the property to market a year ago. CEO Andrew Lancaster says that while it has been a strong asset for the company, pubs are not part of the core business and focus is on the media and investment businesses, and they look forward to seeing what fresh ideas the new proprietors bring.
“It is time for a new owner to guide this iconic site into the future. We are happy to have sold the Scarborough Hotel to Epochal Hotels as we are passing it into safe hands with a proven track record.”
The company just sold a Wollongong development site for a reported $70 million.
A deal was done on the Scarborough for $9.5 million last June, with a nine-month settlement. Piper again partnered with investors on the purchase.
The newly established Epochal Hotels says the accompanying historical significance resonates with its “commitment to preserving and celebrating cultural heritage”.
“This is a deeply meaningful project for us,” offers CEO Glenn Piper.
“We want to deliver something truly special here; an experience that befits its spectacular location, reflects the pub’s stature, and resonates deeply with the community.”
Piper’s rise began with purchase and curation of Freshwater’s Harbord Hotel, where “a new hospitality experience” on level two, and a state-of-the-art recording studio venue for local artists, will be unveiled later this year.
After that came Newcastle’s Merewether Beach Hotel, which was officially reopened earlier this year after a considered restoration.
The group’s plans now centre on the Commodore Hotel in McMahons Point, acquired in May 2023, but works are also being carried out at assets Q Station, on the Northern Beaches headland, and at Hook Island in the Whitsundays.
Reportedly fuelled by a desire to enhance and revive local pride, each project is said to be a “meticulous exploration” of a property’s history and engagement with the community, investing the time required to create an enduring experience.
“Our mission is simple: to uncover unique local institutions and the collective memories buried within communities,” explains Piper.
