Melbourne-based pub powerhouse Sand Hill Road is gearing up for its next greatness with a shuttered, blank canvas Inn in Fitzroy.
Sand Hill Road group is five old mates who joined forces more than two decades ago, in their 20s, taking on Fitzroy’s Commercial Club Hotel as their first venue.
The group has found business success and critical acclaim for its bold, big-budget transformations, such as the award-winning makeover of the sprawling Garden State Hotel in 2016.
In 2017 the boys bought St Kilda staple the Esplanade Hotel, unveiling plans the following year for an epic multi-level makeover of ‘The Espy’ that would go on to be lauded by both industry and pundits.
More recently, SHR unveiled late 2025 the transformation of the Waterside ‘Workers’ Hotel, which had become the last in the portfolio.
In 2020 the group secured a sale of the operations of nearly all its pubs, including the Garden State and The Espy, to Australian Venue Co for around $100 million.
The pandemic saw the deal stall, but it was revisited and finalised in 2022. SHR sold the freehold of The Espy later that year for $64 million.
In need of a new challenge, SHR, fronted by brothers Andy and Matt Mullins, settled in August on the vacant Old Colonial Inn, at 125-129 Brunswick Street in Fitzroy, for $6.55 million.
Previously known as The OC, the pub was built circa 1854, reputedly one of many Melbourne buildings constructed from timer reclaimed from British ships left floating in the harbour during the golf rush of the 1850s.
Set across from the Atherton Gardens housing estate on a 662sqm site, the OC has capacity for 250-pax, in a public bar and its large beer garden. There are currently function spaces on the upper level.
Coincidentally, vendors on the sale were Vince Sofo and Paul Adamo, who sold the group the Esplanade Hotel and the Waterside.
The Adamo and Sofo families bought the old OC in 2012 and had previously operated it as a mixed-use venue incorporating Ichi Ni Nana Izakaya, Village People Hawker food hall and Upside Rooftop and Bar.
Sand Hill Road declined to offer comment on the new project at this stage.
