Plans for makeover of Kookaburra Hostel site at Charles St, Pialba

An old backpacker’s hostel in Hervey Bay will get a fresh new look and a bar open to the public if plans to the council are approved.

An aerial view of the site at 4 Charles St Pialba which will be redeveloped if an application to the council is approved.

The wooden floor wonder that was once the colourful Kookaburra Hostel could soon be spruced up and relaunched complete with a watering hole which is open to the public.

According to plans lodged with the Fraser Coast council, the hostel, which was once popular with budget travellers but has since turned into a rundown boarding house, would undergo a major makeover.

It’s the first effort to revamp the site since local hospitality identity and the site’s former owner George Kotis operated an authentic blue and white themed Greek eatery there in the mid 2000s.

Mr Kotis had planned to open a new restaurant at WetSide Water Park but sadly died on the eve of the launch in 2010.

The 1940s-era 2613 m2 site at 4-6 Charles St, Pialba was originally a convalescent home.

The planning documents state that even though the site has a long history of being used for its proposed purpose as a backpacker’s hostel, it had not operated as one for eight-10 years meaning previous approvals had lapsed and a new application was needed.

Plans have been submitted to the Fraser Coast council for a makeover of the old Kookaburra Backpacker's Hostel in Charles St, Pialba to return to its former use.

The application is to “re-establish the use of the site for the purpose of short-term accommodation” with a cafe and bar which, while targeted to guests, will be open to the general public.

“The site development will include significant restoration/refurbishment of the site facilities and provides for formalised parking facilities as well as a small number of additional accommodation units,” the application reads.

Artist impressions of the project show Hervey’s signage but it’s unclear if that will be the official name.

“The proposed development will provide for 23 accommodation rooms of varying formats (including four new stand-alone studio units).”

“The development maintains, in our submission visual and physical linkages to the Hervey Bay foreshore by creating a localised focus point in the CBD locality using high quality building and design outcomes in a renovated structure.

“It is apparent the proposal will provide for residential accommodation development to enhance activity levels in the precinct as well

as offering a new food services venue.”

A start date for the project, if given approval, has not yet been revealed.