Albany’s historic Premier Hotel has literally risen from oblivion, sporting a multi-million-dollar renovation to revive what was destroyed by arson six years ago.
Mid-2016 news emerged that the lessee of the pub had been beaten and robbed by intruders, who subsequently set fire to the building, built in 1891.
In September that year, the publican was arrested and charged alongside four co-accused over the incident. He later pleaded guilty and received ten years over a scam to fake a robbery and arson in order to claim around $3.3 million in insurance.
The fire caused an estimated $1.5 million in damages.
New licensees Danae Witherow and Andrew Rodgers took over late 2021 and have been working tirelessly, through shutdowns and supply chain woes, to get ‘The Prem’ back in order.
Albany is one of the most southern points in Western Australia, and popular with tourists. The Prem offers two long bars and a dining area, and wraparound balcony overlooking York St, running south to the Indian Ocean.
The beloved local reopens its doors this week after an exhaustive $4 million redevelopment hampered by pandemic holdups and supply chain disruption. While not yet complete, the couple are eager to get going.
It now also sports a cocktail and whiskey bar on the upper level, dubbed Bar 1891, which showcases its strong links to the town and its horse racing pedigree.
The new gatekeeper on Albany’s Phoenix notes that The Prem belongs to the town.
“We are only looking after it,” says Rodgers.
