Historic Western Australia water hole prepares for new custodian

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Publicans Mike and Elizabeth Roszak have “hung up their Duke Bar” and put them on the market in the old Commonwealth Bar in Northam, Western Australia.

Inscribed on the heritage list Duke Guest House The Avon Valley, Western Australia, located about 100 kilometers east-northeast of Perth, has undergone a renaissance in recent years, with major renovations to bars and former stables, and has now been transformed into a beautiful lodging area.

The bar was built in 1906 in a federal lamella-style building to take advantage of the expanded Eastern Railway line around West Northam, and opened the following year as the McCarthy Hotel-the eighth and last hotel built in the town in the 1900s.

Documents from the Western Australian Heritage Committee stated that these annex buildings, including the former stables and toilets, are one of the few stable facilities related to hotel accommodation in Western Australia and have cultural heritage significance.

“The stables behind the hotel are important because the hotel has its own carriage that can meet the passenger trains at Old Northam Station in the 1920s,” the heritage document says.

“The stables may reveal archaeological evidence related to the use of the place; moreover, the stables are a rare, basically complete, and particularly good example of a hotel-related type, indicating a lifestyle that is no longer practiced.”

In this stylish bar, the old meets the new. Image: realcommercial.com.au/for-sale

Radar Luttrell, a sales agent asking for $2.79 million, said the investment in Duke’s Inn in recent years has raised the country’s watering hole to a new level.

“Sales are walk-in, step-out, freehold. There is nothing more to do,” Mr. Luttrell said.

“It is an old federal bar in itself. All the rooms have been built in the past five years. It has a large trade volume and is very popular in Northam.

“The accommodation at the back is called the’stable’, which dates back to the horses and coaches. It was where the horses stayed overnight. Northam was basically the first stop for returning to the old coach that day.”

Western Australia Bar 3

The bar maintains the charm of the Federation. Image: realcommercial.com.au/for-sale

He said that despite the success of the hotel, Roszaks has decided to call it a day.

“This is a passive investment. The owners eventually ran it, but they are now in their 70s and want to hand it over to another successful operator.”

Bradley Woods, Chief Executive Officer of the Australian Hotel Association Western Australia, said that regional bars and hotels have endured the challenges associated with the pandemic and their long-term viability depends on actively resuming interstate travel as soon as possible.

Mr. Woods said: “In the past year, the pandemic has affected regional bars and hotels in many ways, and most hotel owners will confirm that there are both challenges and a silver lining.”

“With the closure of international borders and interstate travel banned for most of 2020, many regional venues have experienced a surge in visits within the state, helping to offset the loss of revenue in traditional markets.

“The most common challenge now facing hotels, bars, pubs and restaurants in remote areas of Western Australia and Greater Perth is the lack of available workers-a problem that limits service hours and puts pressure on existing employees.”

Western Australia Bar 5

After the pandemic, Australian bars are facing difficult times. Image: realcommercial.com.au/for-sale

REA Group economist Anne Flaherty said that the number of postponed and abandoned hotel and tourism projects surged last year and will remain high in 2021.

“Many developers have changed their views on the feasibility of development projects, so we have seen many developers withdraw from the hotel industry,” Ms. Flaherty said.

“I think this is because not only is the international border still closed, but when it may reopen in the middle of next year, the number of international tourists in Australia will still be below the historical average.

“Although we do see an increase in domestic tourism, it still means that their tourists will be less than in the past.

“That said, a regional bar in Western Australia may attract a different market. Domestic tourists are more likely to go to remote areas than international tourists. If we do have more domestic tourism happening, then that area may benefit.”



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