Specialist Far North Queensland publican, Paul McMahon, has acquired the Parkville Hotel, Great Northern Hotel and Ye Old Gordonvale Hotel.
McMahon took possession of the three venues, which will join his existing holdings including the Mossman Hotel and the Barrier Reef Tavern in Port Douglas, a little before Christmas 2022. The previous owner was FNQ hospitality veteran, Tom Hedley.
The new additions are all located in Gordonvale, a sugar-growing town found some 23 kilometres south of the Cairns CBD.
McMahon said that the town’s powerful sense of community is what attracted him to investing in these hotels.
“Gordonvale has a proud and rich history, it’s a hard-working community that established the first sugar mill in the area in 1882, sugar cane is still a vital part of our economy to this day.”
The town has also been the site of important moments in Australian history, including the introduction a somewhat unpopular icon of the Sunshine State, as McMahon explains.
“Gordonvale was also home to 3000 American service men and women during WWII, not to mention the introduction of the not-so-beloved Cane Toad. So we’re excited to be a part of the community and intend to add to this great history.”
The purchases are another sign that the market for regional Australian pubs remains lively, despite economic headwinds.
“We’re encouraged by the continued growth of Far North Queensland and in particular, Gordonvale,” McMahon adds.
“The state and federal governments investment of $481m for the Edmonton to Gordonvale Road upgrade is further evidence of the scale of growth in our region,” he concludes.