Australian Venue Co (AVC) has entered into a partnership with Swinburne University of Technology, which will see The Hawthorn Hotel reopen its doors later this year.
The Hawthorn closed in 2020, due to the impacts of COVID-19, but will now undergo a renovation to provide a mix of dining, socialising and event spaces for regulars, as well as a dedicated space for Swinburne alumni, industry partners, staff and students.
“Australian Venue Co is thrilled to have formed this partnership with Swinburne University of Technology to bring back The Hawthorn Hotel,” Paul Waterson, AVC CEO said.
“We are taking the opportunity to give the venue a facelift and create new areas for guests to enjoy. We know that The Hawthorn Hotel is embraced by local students, so we will be ensuring it delivers everything they are looking for, from great food and drinks to a relaxing alfresco area.”
Swinburne’s Deputy Vice Chancellor, Global & Community Engagement (Interim) Dr Andrew J Smith said the University was excited to partner with AVC to return the 152-year-old venue to its former glory.
“We look forward to seeing the ground level turned into the beautiful pub it once was, as well as transforming the first level to create a flexible space that can be used to host Swinburne’s student, staff, alumni, industry and stakeholder events as we continue to create unique engagement experiences with those that are close to the university.
“We are sure The Hawthorn Hotel will become a hub for both the Swinburne and surrounding local communities,” Dr Smith said.
AVC has engaged architect Burton and Carter for the renovations. The Melbourne company has worked on renovating and restoring a number of Victorian pubs including The Local in Port Melbourne, Public House in Richmond, Windsor Ale House and Public House in Albury.
Waterson added: “Burton and Carter have a good understanding of the Melbourne pub culture and how to embrace this through design, so we are excited to be working with them on The Hawthorn Hotel project.
“We look forward to inviting the local Hawthorn community back to their new-look pub in mid-2021.”