Great Western Hotel sells and new owners have big plans

LOYAL patrons will be frothing when they find out a Gracemere businessman’s grand plans for the Great Western Hotel, in Rockhampton’s southside.

Colin Bowden is the new proud owner of the Great Western Hotel in Rockhampton. Photo: Chris Ison / The Morning Bulletin. Picture: Chris Ison

LOYAL patrons will be frothing when they find out a Gracemere businessman's grand plans for the Great Western Hotel, in Rockhampton's southside.

The hotel's new owners, Colin and Vickie Bowden, are hoping to return the popular watering hole to its heyday glory, and to put on more concerts.

Industry sources told The Morning Bulletin the hotel sold for about $1.7million.

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Last Wednesday Mr and Mrs Bowden moved into their new business as the freehold title owners of the Denison-Stanley Sts hotel.

They will stay onsite to manage the hotel.

All the old staff members will keep their jobs under the new management.

Mr Bowden hoped in future to reopen the accommodation part of the hotel, but that required renovations.

He wanted to attract bigger and more concerts to the arena part of the hotel.

The southside hotel has been on the market for several months but failed to attract buyers.

Previous owners of the hotel include country music star Lee Kernaghan.

Originally published as Great Western Hotel sells and new owners have big plans