Ghanem Group is in the middle of a restoration of the Commercial Hotel Boonah, with some new additions to the pub now open.
The heritage-listed pub in Queenland’s Scenic Rim region is being restored by Ghanem Group, with a new craft brewery addition – Boonah Brewing Co (BBCo) – and a vibrant beer garden, both open from Thursday 8 May, with BBCo beers on tap.
The restoration of the iconic Queenslander pub, established in 1905, includes a gentle facelift of the bistro, improved accessibility, air-conditioning, new furniture, including for the gaming room, new lighting, and upgraded kitchen and bathroom facilities. A new car park is adjacent to the just-launched beer garden. Upstairs accommodation is under full renovation, and is expected to open by the end of the year, strengthening the getaway offerings and food-and-drink experiences in the increasingly popular travel destination of the Scenic Rim.
With the addition of Boonah Brewing Co and beer garden, GhanemGroup fulfils a long-held dream of opening a craft brewery, as well as bringing a unique new offering to the region.
The brewery is in full production, with a full-flavoured mid-strength beer brewed with a variety of malts and a mix of Australian and European hops, and an alcoholic ginger beer already on tap.
An additional four core brews will gradually hit the taps over coming weeks, including an Aussie XPA brewed with 100 per cent Australian Galaxy hops, an Italian lager brewed with specially grown Italian barley, a rice lager brewed with flaked rice and pilsner malt, and a hard lemonade. Seasonal and specialty brews will follow. The beers are exclusively available at the Commercial Hotel Boonah and BBCo,but will eventually be available in all Ghanem Group venues and bottle shops.
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Visitors from today can also enjoy a newly launched and expanded bistro menu, served either inside the hotel, or in the open-air beer garden, which looks back into the brewery.
Executive chef Jake Nicolson brings an elevated bistro menu to life that includes classic pub dishes, as well as ‘Commie Classics’, such as Tandoori Duck Curry and Slow-Cooked Lamb Shank Pot Pie,. A range of starters, salads, sandwiches and burgers, and deep-pan, Detroit-style pizzas complete a family-friendly menu that ensures there is something for everyone.
“We’ve elevated traditional pub classics and added our own spin with a section of unique Commie Classics that really bring out the best flavours of the region, and of Boonah Brewing Co beers,” stated Nicholson.
The family-owned group, which has a farm in the nearby town of Tarome where they raise livestock and grow fruit and vegetables, has close ties to local communities. Natural spring water from the farm will be used in the beers, and beer barley mash from the brewing process will be fed to the family’s cattle.
The full refurbishment of the historic hotel is expected to be complete by late-2025, positioning it as a boutique, short-stay destination for Scenic Rim visitors.
Ghanem Group director Adonis Ghanem says the Commercial Hotel Boonah is a rare beauty, ripe for renovation in the heart of the spectacular Scenic Rim – a region that his family cherishes. Restoring the property, with the exciting addition of a craft brewery and beer garden, is a project that the family hopes will give back to the community by further boosting the region’s tourism appeal.
“To restore a property that is so precious to locals, and to add to the region’s already unique getaways and food-and-drink offerings with the creation of Boonah Brewing Co, is something we are very passionate about,” Ghanem stated.
“The Commercial Hotel Boonah is central to the fabric of the community and will continue to be so. BBCo beers are pouring, and we invite everyone to come along, pull up a stool at the bar, or table in the beer garden, and enjoy the autumn sunshine, cold beers, and bistro menu this weekend.”
The restoration of the Commercial Hotel is the latest Queensland pub project from Ghanem Group, which is also in the middle of a transformation of the famed Fox Hotel in Brisbane.