Railway Hotel celebrates 15 years
Congratulations to Robyn, Jan and the team who have made the Railway a popular meeting and eating place in Allora. A big cheer out to Rhonda and Red who have been with Robyn for the past 15 years. Great stuff!
All systems are go: new birthing suite to come online in new year
For the first time this century, expecting mums in Weipa and the surrounding community will be able to give birth in a local hospital when a new service begins early in 2023. The Weipa Hospital has a fully equipped birthing suite and a top team of staff lined up to welcome Cape York’s newest arrivals.
Woodford Folk Festival takes it up a notch
The large number of Darling Downs locals who help make up the throng at Woodfordia for the annual Woodford Folk Festival will notice a touch of luxury has been added for a lucky few this year. Twenty luxury glamping tents with ensuite bathrooms and kitchens have been launched with the help of $1.2 million from the Queensland Government Growing Tourism Infrastructure fund.
Roo Fest
Stephen Cranby. What is Roo Fest? Both Donna [Publican] and Mandy Connell [Organiser] agree. Roo Fest is about bringing artists together from around this region of Victoria to provide a venue for musicians who haven’t necessarily been heard or been up this way before.
Cape accommodation wins gong
Tropical retreat Cape York Peninsula Lodge has won gold at the annual 2022 Queensland Tourism Awards. The Bamaga-based business also earned silver for the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Tourism category ... the Lodge had a record-breaking year in 2021-22 with a 92 per cent increase in visitors and a 54 per cent rise in group bookings.
Last chance for Qld to lead way on seafood laws: Katter
Ahead of National Barramundi Day, Queensland fishers, restaurateurs and pro-Aussie politicians are imploring the Palaszczuk Labor Government to lead the way on Country-of-Original-Labelling (CoOL) labelling laws. A bill currently before the Queensland Parliament, known as the Food (Labelling of Seafood) Amendment Bill 2021, will go to a vote next Tuesday 25 October.
Sunny side of trade for Maclean businesses
Emma Pritchard. The Maclean business community would like to extend an invitation to Clarence Valley residents and tourists in the region, “come and visit us on Sunday!” Known for its proud Scottish heritage, riverside views and rural charm, the township of Maclean is looking to add another attractive feature to its resume as an idyllic Sunday shopping destination.
Best July on record for regional South Australia: Bettison
Tourism in regional South Australia has not been dampened this winter, with the state celebrating its best July regional occupancy on record. Latest data shows July 2022 saw average occupancy for regional accommodation of 57 per cent, the best result for a July yet to be recorded. It was up from pre-Covid winter occupancy levels, of 50 per cent (July 2019).
Publican goes sightseeing in Queanbeyan
A publican involved in the record-breaking acquisition of the Thomas Blamey Hotel in Wagga Wagga has purchased of the Tourist Hotel in Queanbeyan – the town’s first pub sale in a decade ... Blake Edwards and Dan Dragicevich of HTL Property, who managed the off-market sale, said the buyer is an “undisclosed purchaser is a Maitland-based publican, who has recently purchased the Manning River Hotel in Taree and Thomas Blamey Tavern in Wagga Wagga though HTL”.
New owner at Bull & Barley Inn
Cambooya's iconic Bull & Barley Inn has a new owner with Mick Dewar taking over from Bruce Dell, who has owned the hotel for the last 15 years. The historic pub was built in 1902 when it was named the Cambooya Railway Hotel.
Saucy, country curds on whey to Sydney
A taste of Bonalbo is on its way to a prestigious food show in the city. Simon and Emma Powick’s tomato relish won first prize at the Bonalbo Show and their lemon curd came second. They make and sell onion marmalade and beetroot relish as well.
Families farewell Apsley pub
Gabrielle Duykers. Eight years after first banding together to save the town pub, 12 Apsley farming families will be handing over The Border Inn Hotel to new energetic owners next month. The hotel, built in 1850, served as a social hub for residents in western Victoria and south east SA for more than 170 years before shutting its doors indefinitely in 2011.
New Mexican restaurant shares the Taco Love as six new shops open in town
There is good news for lovers of Mexican food. Taco Love Bros restaurant has moved from Lismore to Casino. Chef Dylan Morris and partner Sappho Rose had already planned the move well before the floods hit in late February ... Six new shops have come to Casino including Lismore Watchmakers ...
Shared vision
cluBarham has finalised a 5-year strategic overview ... The 5-year strategic vision aim is to directly contribute to local population and tourism growth that will enhance the economic benefit to the community. ... “The main vision of it is really to focus on population growth and community support" : cluBarham CEO, Jason Wallace.
Harvest Hotels continues to grow with record pub deal
Harvest Hotels has picked up Wagga Wagga’s popular Victoria Hotel for $29 million in a record regional Australia pub transaction. It breaks the record set in the same town just a month ago, by a consortium including pub baron Arthur Laundy buying the Thomas Blamey Tavern for $27 million.
Gingin plans for a consolidated caravan park at Guilderton
Parts of Dewar and Edwards streets will need to be permanently closed prior to their inclusion into a consolidated caravan park reserve if the Shire of Gingin proceeds with an agenda item.
Worker shortages hitting small businesses hard
Since the beginning of the pandemic, small businesses have been amongst the hardest hit, and unfortunately, for many businesses across central Victoria, the continued effects of COVID are still being felt. Annette Larsen, owner and Chef at Harcourt Produce and General Store, told the Times, “We have been short-staffed for almost a year."
Dunoon & District Sports & Recreation Club
The Dunoon Sports Club was pleased to be able to help people needing a safe place to shelter, and was used for an evacuation centre during the first floods in early March. Thank you to our amazing community of volunteers as they wrangled donations and food, comforted residents and provided cups of tea and coffee, as well as a listening ear through the unfolding disaster.
Artist hand delivers Tennant Creek RSL stubby coolers
Pam Dillon. The Tennant Creek RSL had the pleasure of meeting Darwin artist, Kerry Sandhu, when she delivered 250 stubby coolers to the RSL this week. The stubby coolers come in five unique ANZAC inspired designs and are named after the songs that are embedded in each design.
Narrandera Rod Run weekend
"I am thrilled to welcome everyone to the Narrandera Rod Run Weekend, a premier event of the Shire for an impressive 38 years. Each year over the Easter weekend, residents, visitors and motor enthusiasts alike, have the opportunity to celebrate and immerse themselves in early model autos and custom built hot rods": Cr Neville Kschenka, Narrandera Mayor.
Murphy family offloads Singleton pub
The Imperial Hotel in Singleton has sold to a private hotel investor for circa $18.5 million, as market demand for regional NSW pubs pushes on. Sitting around 70km out from Newcastle, in the Upper Hunter region of NSW, the large format Imperial Hotel occupies a ~3,00sqm land parcel, boasts a 31m Hotel Licence, 23 GMES and brings in an average weekly revenue of $105,000.
Laundy checks in at Port Macquarie
The Laundy Hotel Group has acquired the Mercure Centro Hotel in Port Macquarie as tourism makes a comeback ... “Whilst not housed in the same equity structure as our other beachside accommodation assets in Noosa, Manly and Terrigal; this coastal property intersects perfectly with our national investment objectives, and adds deftly to the growing portfolio,” said new owner, publican Stu Laundy.
