Callington Hotel owner Stephen Marks issued with stop-work order, again, over pub revamp

A well-known businessman is again in trouble with authorities over unauthorised work on a heritage pub revamp in the Adelaide Hills.

A businessman who demolished part of a historic pub without approval is again in trouble over unauthorised renovation work on the Adelaide Hills venue.

Mount Barker Council issued a stop work order to Stephen Marks on May 17 for undertaking upgrades to the local heritage-listed Callington Hotel contrary to development approvals issued in 2017.

“The notice directed to cease all works, alterations and refurbishments of the hotel until further notice; with the exception of any works alterations, additions and refurbishments of the hotel consistent with the previous approval,” the council’s planning and development general manager Marc Voortman told The Advertiser in a statement this week.

“The notice will be lifted when an appropriate approval is obtained.”

The revamped front bar of the Callington Hotel. Mt Barker Council has issued another stop work order against the pub’s owner Stephen Marks.

The council would not elaborate on the nature of the illegal work to the Montefiore St premises.

Mr Marks bought the pub in August 2016 and in the same month the council was advised that internal demolition of walls had been undertaken without its consent.

Mr Marks sought retrospective approval for the illegal work in September 2016, which was approved by the council’s former development assessment panel in January 2017.

The Norwood businessman formerly ran the Marina St Vincent at Wirrina Cove but was evicted over his company’s failure to pay a $200,000 state government bill.

Stephen Marks bought the Callington Hotel in 2016 and ripped out internal walls of the heritage pub shortly after without approval.

The District Court found the marina had also overcharged berthholders and used marina funds to prop up companies related to Mr Marks.

SA Police are trying to block Mr Marks from having a liquor licence, arguing before the Liquor Licensing Court, that Mr Marks is not a “fit and proper” person based on his “reputation, honesty and integrity”.

The Bank of Queensland also sought a repossession order for Mr Marks’ Norwood house. Mr Marks is trying to sell the house with an asking price of $3.9m to $4.2m.