New Comiskey venue ‘The Doonan’ unveiled

In some good news out of Queensland this week, Comiskey Group has fleshed out its plans to expand northwards to Noosa on the Sunshine Coast with the construction of a new boutique venue and cellar door called The Doonan.  

Comiskey Group, which is known for its iconic entertainment venues, has released artist impressions of The Doonan, its first venue outside of Moreton Bay, which is due to be completed this year.

Comiskey Group has partnered with long-time friends, hospitality veterans, and Noosa locals Josh Jones and Neville Allen on the $6m project in Doonan in the Noosa Valley.

The Doonan’s original structure was built in 1990 and operated as a German restaurant and will undergo an extensive renovation.

While the building’s exterior and red roof will stay, a modern nursery-inspired makeover with a focus on landscape design is a key feature and is being delivered by landscape architecture and urban design studio CUSP.

Once complete, The Doonan will offer paddock-to-plate dining with local produce sourced from the Sunshine Coast. It will have a large outdoor dining space and playground to encourage families to take a scenic drive to Doonan.

The property will also feature a Cellar Door which will stock locally produced beer, wine and spirits.

The group bought the two-hectare site in 2006 with the intention of developing the property and pre-existing building, Comiskey Group Director, Rob Comiskey said. “We saw a great opportunity when the land in Doonan came up for sale.”

“The property is just a ten-minute drive from the famous Noosa and a five-minute drive from the country town of Eumundi, making it an easy escape for locals and tourists alike.

“I am pleased to announce that after 15 years of ownership, we have decided to make something of this incredible property and have come up with not only a concept but a name for the new hotel development, The Doonan.”

Comiskey Group says it has so far injected $200m into the Moreton Bay region through its venues which include Eatons Hill Hotel and Sandstone Point Hotel, with the latter recently named AHA overall hotel of the year at the national awards.

The group gained approval for The Doonan in the middle of last year after a lengthy court tussle with Sunshine Coast Council, and The Doonan is expected to be completed by September this year.

It’s the first in a series of big announcements for the group which currently has four more venues in the works, projects that will see it double its portfolio within the next two years.

The new pub venture is close to home for co-owner Josh Jones and Neville ‘Nifty’ Allen. “We’re really excited about partnering with the Comiskey Group to bring The Doonan to the Sunshine Coast,” Jones said.

“As long-time locals, Nifty and I are looking forward to combining our passion for the area with our expertise in hospitality to deliver this venue, which I have no doubt will be a great addition to the community.

“Having a young family myself, I’m most excited to create a venue that resonates with the many families on the Sunshine Coast. The Doonan will offer a family-friendly experience unlike anything currently in the area. I can’t wait to see my own family enjoy the venue.”

The Doonan will also offer numerous job opportunities across a variety of roles from construction through to operation, according to Comiskey Group, with locals taking preference.