Townsville builders start work on new North Shore tavern and bottle shop

A new pub is under construction in a growing area of Townsville and residents are already salivating. SEE THE DESIGNS>>>

A new pub is under construction at Stockland’s North Shore masterplanned community.

The $15 million North Shore Tavern project in Main Street is a joint venture between Sydney and Townsville interests and has been a long time coming.

First planned as a tavern and apartment project in 2016, the development now is focused on a community-based tavern and adjoining bottle shop with the prospect of more to come.

It will include a sports bar, indoor and outdoor dining areas, function facilities and car park.

Directors of the development company George Fleming and Darren Baker said they wanted to provide something the whole North Shore community would enjoy.

“Our focus is on providing a community-based facility. We are hoping in the design that we have capacity for functions and get-togethers, a sports bar, outdoor dining, a classic pub or tavern, definitely oriented to the families of the North Shore community,” Mr Baker said.

Townsville-based company Gibbons Constructions is building the project.

Gibbons owner Kirk Gibbons said they would use as many local trades as available with construction employment likely to peak around 30 jobs at any one time.

Stockland senior development manager Rachel Dunstan said the family friendly tavern would service over 6000 North Shore residents and be located within a 60ha Town Centre, adjacent to the North Shore Market Place shopping centre and alongside a future central park.

“The tavern will be a place where locals can connect and socialise, complementing the many other great facilities on offer at North Shore including schools, shopping, dining and parks,” Ms Dunstan said.

She said the community’s 12th park, Emperor Park, and Green Leaves Early Learning child care centre opened last year, while a first stage hub for the community’s northern precinct, called The Junction, which will include a coffee shop, display village and sales centre, will open early this year.

Mr Fleming said they were excited with the opportunity and there was clearly a demand for the tavern and bottle shop.

But he said they were not proceeding with plans to also develop a 40-bed apartment complex.

Mr Fleming said the cost to develop the apartments and sale prices, when houses were selling for similar prices, just did not stack up.

He said they were negotiating at present to buy land next to the tavern with the idea of developing a motel in a few years’ time.

It is hoped to have the tavern open for trade by Christmas this year or early 2023.

Originally published as Townsville builders start work on new North Shore tavern and bottle shop