Townsville’s historic Oonoonba Hotel Motel is getting a glow-up, including a name change back to its original moniker.
The 123-year-old pub was known as The Fairfield for its first sixty years and is returning to this name as the pub is returned to its former glory.
New owners PMJ Operations, comprised of Brisbane-based commercial agent Paul Fraser, publican Jaz Mooney and luxury homes builder Michael Weeks, purchased the pub – their first hotel acquisition – in early 2023, for $7 million.
Two months ago they began construction on a $5 million refurbishment comprising three stages, aimed at modernising the layout.
The first stage, almost complete, was the creation of a new gaming lounge.
The second stage, due for completion in August, saw the demolition of half the pub and motel rooms in favour of a new kitchen, 120-seat restaurant and bar, an all-weather beer garden seating 80-pax, along with a kid’s play area.
The kitchen will feature a massive woodfire oven, centralising pizzas on the menu along with traditional pub favourites.
The third stage will see the gutting of the remaining public bar, cold room and TAB before raising the ceiling to accommodate a modern sports bar, featuring huge LED screens.
The Fairfield, with a local catchment of around 7,400 people, enjoys minimal competition. This gentrification is designed to allow for a wider appeal to both locals and families.
Fraser believes there is “massive demand” for a quality independent pub catering to the region’s populace and says the focus of the new pub offering will be conducive to families, which “the Oonoonba never had before”.
The suburban stalwart was established in 1963, on a big 3,739sqm corner block with double street frontage, close to shopping centres, schools, residential complexes and the Townsville CBD.
Refurbishment is expected to be completed by early October, ready to “welcome everyone” in time for the Melbourne Cup.
