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.

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Libby and Ash Walker with kids

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.

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3 thoughts on “WALKERS MOVING ON FROM ARMATREE PUB”

  1. Hello to all
    Well i am so pleased to see the pub is going to carry on as we have been there on many occasions as we came from Richmond nsw we all used to come up for the Kangaroo drive and really look forward to the BBQ Saturday night the pub was packed and they even came in bus loads
    It was also great during the wheat carting as a stop off point for a lemon squash at 40deg + in the truck
    We liked the area so much we moved to Gilgandra for three years then the drought hit in 83 so we had to go for work was not there no more sadly but we came back and settled in Peak Hill with my own shop & amp; finally to retire so i will say Cheer for now Colin Mcintyre

  2. The Armatree hotel has been a watering hole, a meeting place, a wedding venue, an entertainment hub and a nice friendly place to visit. All the best

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