The Koorawatha Homestead recently reopened its doors to customers after major renovations

Having been closed since October 2020, the new owner of a homestead-style motel said he was ready to put his latest investment back on the map. Read more here:

Mr Carrett said he was hoping to see more traffic and customers flow into his motel from the Bruce Highway as the year progressed.

One of Central Queensland’s rural tourism gems, located just off the Bruce Highway, has reopened after it was extensively renovated by its new Gold Coast owner.

The Koorawatha Homestead Motel, located 4 kilometres south of Bororen, was purchased by Bill Carrett at an auction which included 42 attendants and eight bidders last year and he officially reopened the site in December.

Mr Carrett said his family had been in the business of owning and managing motels across Central Queensland for more than 30 years, but this was his first investment property.

“The decision to renovate the guest rooms and other existing infrastructure was one which was made before I had even purchased the motel,” Mr Carrett said.

“I saw it at auction and the place looked a little bit worse for wear having been closed since September or October of 2020, but I got it for a good price.

“For example there was a lot of wooden Manchester in the rooms which wasn’t falling apart, but definitely had some years on it.

“I bought Koorawatha Homestead with the intention of renovating the place and making it new.”

Mr Carrett said he thought the motel business was not particularly affected by the Covid-19 pandemic, however, that had changed in the past six months.

“It was a bit worrying because getting tradies in was difficult, however, the pandemic wasn’t really a factor in the refurbishment or renovations of the Motel,” he said.

The Koorawatha Homestead Motel was purchased last year at a well attended auction by Gold Coast man Bill Carrett.

Mr Carrett said with new, modern-feeling rooms, the Koorawatha Homestead Motel was the perfect place to stay on your travels along the Bruce Highway.

“We are also pet friendly which really adds to the appeal of the motel for some families or couples who are travelling with pets,” he said.

“We are trying to attract as much of the light traffic that there has been on the Bruce Highway of late into our motel rooms, so come and give us a go.”

Koorawatha Homestead Motel owner Bill Carett said there had been extensive work done to the original, existing rooms at the facility.