$20m pub plans for Wellington Rd, Mt Barker

A bistro, sports bar, function rooms and outdoor playgrounds will form part of a $20m tavern development in Mt Barker – the first of its kind in over 160 years. Take a look.

A bistro, sports bar, gaming lounge, function rooms, outdoor playgrounds and a drive-through liquor shop will form part of a $20m tavern development in Mt Barker.

The Matthews family – one of SA’s largest family-owned hotel groups – has revealed plans for a new three-storey pub, the first development of its kind within the township in 167 years.

Mt Barker currently has two pubs, both on Gawler St and built in the 1850s.

The development, lodged under business entity Guylerie Pty Ltd, is under consideration by Plan SA and will form part of a new business district at 239 Wellington Rd.

Labelled as “iconic” by Guylerie director Brett Matthews, construction of the 1000-person capacity pub is expected to commence mid next year, with an opening date set for late 2023.

He said 150 permanent jobs would be created upon opening.

Local land agent James Sexton from Sexton Glover Watts and Brett Matthews Director of Guylerie Pty Ltd at the proposed site of a new pub in Mt Barker. Picture: Keryn Stevens

“The final look is actually really hard to describe as there is not a lot here in Adelaide, in my mind, that we can compare it to, but we’re going to model it on what we see in the big Sydney and Melbourne outer developments, their greenfield sites.

“So it’s really going to cater for the local community … for mums, dads, the kids, grandma, grandpa.

“That is why we’re putting in a function and events space, beautiful alfresco decks, and we’re also doing playgrounds, a sports bar with TAB and a bistro. It’s going to be very family friendly.

“So this is going to be very much along the lines of Belair Hotel with playgrounds and alfresco outside.”

Mr Matthews said the development was prompted by Mt Barker’s population boom.

The once quaint Hills town is on track to become the second largest city in SA with a population of over 56,000 by 2036.

Architectural drawings of the new Mt Barker pub on Wellington Rd.

The pub will form part of a new business district which also includes a Woolworths, an OTR and childcare centre.

“It’s only because of the sheer number of homes out here that you can build something this size … and what we’re proposing, for Adelaide standards, is big,” Mr Matthews said.

“Thankfully the council has been very supportive, although they originally thought we wanted to develop a small-scale pub, bar-type concept but we said: “No! This needs to be iconic in SA”.

“They support us because they’ve seen us deliver with the Stirling Hotel, the Crafers and the Belair Hotels, so they know our product and can be confident that … we would deliver the right product.”

Business Mt Barker chairman and local land agent James Sexton labelled the development as history making.

He said the city’s only two pubs, both located on Gawler St, were over 160 years old.

The Barker Hotel was built in 1853, while Gray’s Inn – located opposite the local police station, was built in 1855.

The pub will sit in a central location to service the wider community.

“It’s been 160-odd years since they built a hotel and the population has boomed since then,” he said.

“It’s just brilliant for the community and will bring heaps of new jobs … and apprenticeships for people wanting to get trained up.”

To be perched on top of a hill, overlooking the future Heysen Boulevard, the tavern is yet to be named.

It will sit adjacent to a new Woolworths, and OTR, a new childcare centre and other retail.

“Woolworths will employ over 250 people, the OTR will have 60 to 80, then there are 150 at the tavern and we’re also getting a new childcare out here that (will) employ another 30 (staff),” Mr Sexton said.

“So that’s nearly 500 permanent jobs out here on completion of the project, just on this site.

“Woolworths will open October next year and the OTR will probably open in May or June, so this area is going to change very rapidly.”