Comiskey Group has added the Imperial Hotel, Eumundi to its portfolio, bolstering its Sunshine Coast presence.
The Imperial Hotel is a Sunshine Coast landmark, located across from Australia’s largest open-air markets, the famous Eumundi Markets. The sale of the 112- year old property includes an on-site distillery, bottle shop drive-thru, the brewery facilities of Eumundi Brewery, and 15-room boutique accommodation, HOLA. The double storey hotel and boutique accommodation is situated on an approximately 5,581sqm corner block and boasts classic Queenslander architecture.
The Imperial Hotel sees Comiskey Group add to its presence on the Susnhine Coast, having opened The Doonan earlier this year. Comiskey Group also owns a 150-hecatre plot of land in Coochin Creek on the Sunshine Coast, with an application lodged to utilise the property as a large scale festival and event site.
Comiskey Group Director, David Comiskey resides on the Sunshine Coast despite working largely in Moreton Bay.
“My family have always loved the Sunshine Coast! People can’t believe I drive to Brisbane every day for work but I wouldn’t have it any other way, the lifestyle on the coast is unbeatable which is why we are excited to be expanding further into the region. The Imperial Hotel is my local, and I have always loved it. Eumundi is a must-see Queensland tourism destination and we are proud to be able to be a part of its future in more ways than one.”
The sale process was exclusively managed by HTL Property and overseen by Andrew Jolliffe, Glenn Price and Brent McCarthy. The sale drew significant interest from interstate publicans, especially from NSW.
“We fielded interest from a large number of hospitality investors, and whilst the successful party was Queensland based, it was clients with both Sydney and Melbourne based operations that presented the most interest,” Price said.
Partnering with Lion on Eumundi Brewery
Director Rob Comiskey is excited about the purchase and is very much looking forward to working with Lion, who operate Eumundi Brewery out of the on-site brewery, now owned by the group.
“Being able to own such an iconic hotel and brewery in such a special community was an unmissable opportunity. The Eumundi Brewery brand is a local treasure, well-known across the state. We can’t wait to begin this unique partnership with Lion, combining our differing industry expertise to further build our businesses and support the growth of the brand on a national scale. We already have a great relationship with Lion, working with them in a different capacity across our pubs, and so we look forward to seeing what’s to come from joining forces.”
Lion’s Queensland field sales director, Patrick Donohue, is looking forward to working with the Comiskey Group.
“We are pleased to be part of this exciting next chapter for the Imperial Hotel and look forward to continuing to operate the Eumundi Brewery here at the venue, now under the ownership of the Comiskey Group. The Imperial Hotel is a quintessentially Queensland pub that is loved by locals and visitors to the Sunshine Coast alike. Nothing beats a fresh Eumundi beer tapped directly from the brewery tanks after a wander around the markets!”
While the famed Queenslander façade of the Imperial Hotel will be kept intact, Comiskey Group is set to give the venue’s interior a major overhaul over the next few months. Two new restaurants will be added, as well as a new gaming room and TAB to the hotel.
“The Imperial Hotel has great street appeal, we want to keep the iconic Queenslander look that it is famous for and bring back the traditional style, acknowledging the hotel’s history. We are excited to take ownership of the venue, and plan to add new furniture, lighting and landscaping to really reinvigorate the existing spaces. We also look forward to bringing in a new menu and offering that we hope the community will love,” says Rob Comiskey.
HOLA recently had a renovation, so while internally it will stay the same, Comiskey Group will add new facilities, including a heated pool.
Comiskey Group is set to officially take the reins of the Imperial Hotel later this month.
