By James Atkinson
Sirromet Wines owner and founder Terry Morris this week expanded his ownership of hotel properties in Queensland, buying pubs in Toowoomba and Dalby on the Darling Downs.
Morris and fellow-Gold Coast businessman Dean Merrell today settled on the joint purchase of the Westbrook Junction Tavern in Toowoomba, 130km west of Brisbane.
On Monday (November 21) the pair partnered to buy the Oasis Hotel in nearby Dalby (pictured).
"We believe these hotels are good investments, and it's also an opportunity to introduce Sirromet's wines to more people in the Toowoomba and Dalby areas," said Morris.
In June Morris and Merrell also purchased the historic Dugandan Hotel in Boonah, 90km south-west of Brisbane, the duo's first foray into hotel ownership.
Merrell is CEO of Morris's Gold Coast-based company Morris International, which has interests including the Sirromet winery at Mount Cotton near Brisbane, Carrara Markets, and The Holden Driving Centre at Norwell.
Morris said plans for the Oasis Hotel in Dalby included reopening the bottle shop, which has been closed for about six years, and completing 23 partially-built hotel rooms within six months.
"A lot of work has already been done on the hotel's (23) unfinished rooms, but the internal fixtures and fittings need to be completed, along with a few other things," he said.
"Dalby is flying high with the mining boom, and accommodation is becoming harder and harder to find."