WALKERS MOVING ON FROM ARMATREE PUB

After a decade restoring Armatree’s historic hotel, Ash and Libby Walker are moving on to buy the farm.

The couple moved to Armatree as newlyweds and purchased the Armatree Hotel with no hotel experience.

The 1929-built pub had “seen better days” and the former project manager and nurse absorbed themselves in its revival, as well as consolidating their place in the regional town, around an hour’s drive north of Dubbo.

Their goal was to make the pub a beloved meeting place for locals, an events venue, and a welcoming stop for passers-by and overnight visitors. This involved bringing much of the Hotel up to compliance, and renovating the bar, amenities and eight accommodation rooms.

Also, a new function facility seating 120-pax has just been completed, plus there is an approved DA for a 10-space caravan park next door to the Hotel, on the hectare-plus block.

Beyond the structural, the Walkers have worked to bring charm to the local watering hole, engaging in the business of weddings, and corporate events and training days. Regular clients include major local companies such as NAB, Suncorp, GrainCorp and Australian Wool Network.

But also pursuing their own regional lifestyle, Ash is into his fifth year as Deputy Mayor of the Gilgandra Shire and kids growing up, the pair have determined to buy a farm in the area and put down even more roots.

“What we love most about this place is the great sense of community and the support we’ve received for what we’ve done, so we’re definitely staying in this district,” says Ash.

The mostly-renovated pub has been listed with NSW Central West accommodation and hospitality specialist Resort Brokers Australia.

“With most of the hard work done but still plenty of opportunity to grow both the accommodation and dining business even further, this would have to be one of the best bush pubs I’ve seen,” remarks Resort Brokers’ Andrew Rendall.

Figures from Destination NSW cite nearly 5.6 million visitor nights in Central NSW for FY16 – up five per cent on the previous year. The growth has seen the Hotel record nearly 30 per cent increase in net profit in the last two years.

The Armatree freehold going concern is for sale via Expressions of Interest.