Only two years since its long-awaited revival, the Empire Hotel in South Townsville has closed ‘for a break’, and offers are being sought on a sale or lease.
Built on a prominent corner in 1901, the pub is a short walk from the Townsville CBD and Queensland Country Bank Stadium. Originally known as the Empire Hotel, it spent a stint as the Republic Hotel when Australia looked to remove the Queen as the head of state.
After racking up a century on the job, the Empire closed in 2002.
Mid-2022 the dormant site was acquired for $2.2 million by local developer Brodie Jankovic, in partnership with Rob Pearson and Katie Kelliher’s K and RK Investments. They already owned and operate the nearby Australian Hotel.
With the assistance of a Modernising Buildings and Activating Spaces grant from Townsville City Council, after nearly 20 years dark the Hotel reopened September 2022.
But potential patrons were surprised last week to find a notice in the window explaining that “After much consideration, we’ve made the difficult decision to temporarily close”.
The notice suggested that the closure wasn’t goodbye, and that they would “see you soon”.
Kelliher, co-owner, spoke of challenges on social media, suggesting venues around the country are “having to make tough decisions” in the wake of increasing costs and taxes, the decrease in discretionary spending, power bills, and complex regulation.
Thanking people for their messages of support, she expressed that they are very interested in reopening, as either owner or lessee.
Meanwhile, the search began to find a buyer to purchase or lease the asset.
It features a public bar and TAB area, fully operational kitchen and bistro seating, dedicated kids’ playroom, and spacious outdoor beer garden.
On the upper level are 15 “blank canvass” accommodation rooms and a balcony area.
Sales literature also refers to an extended kids’ play area on an adjacent vacant block of land, which could be leased or purchased by an incoming buyer.
The hotel is said to cater to a “wide variety of patrons” and is trade-ready.
“The iconic Empire Hotel in Townsville presents an exceptional opportunity to acquire an established freehold hotel with a fully refurbished bar, kitchen and amenities block and is ready for immediate operation with only little investment required,” says Knight Frank’s Glen Cummins, marketing the asset with colleague Mark Fitzgerald.
Agents suggest there is opportunity for growth by remodelling the accommodation, or refurbishing to allow hosting of functions and private events.
