Jason Spooner, Mark Bishop the new owners of Keppel Sands pub

For the first time in 10 years, a Capricorn Coast hotel has changed ownership. Check out what they have been up to in the past six months during renovations.

Jason Spooner at the newly renovated Keppel Sands Hotel Motel.

The Keppel Sands Hotel Motel has been a hive of activity for the past six months with the new owners rejuvenating the town’s only pub into a modern venue with a beachside feel.

Neighbours and old high school friends Jason Spooner and Mark Bishop from Toowoomba bought the pub late last year, seeing the potential in the 50-year-old property.

It was the first time in a decade the pub had sold, with the pair buying it from Marlborough grazing family Simon and Danielle McAuley-Powell.

Jason and Mark, the new owner of the Keppel Sands Hotel Motel.

“We wouldn’t have bought it if we thought it would fail,” Mr Spooner said.

“We saw the potential in it, the size of the land, the accommodation, the empty shop at the side, the vicinity to the beach, being a fishing and crabbing town.

“You look at Emu Park and Yeppoon and Rockhampton, the place is just growing, eventually the overflow has to carry through to here.”

Walking through the pub, it seems like a whole new place with the open rear timber deck, booth seating, newly tiled bathrooms, ducted airconditioning, fresh paint, a new sports bar and the addition of a kid’s room.

The timber deck at the rear.

“We haven’t tried to go too fancy, we’re not in the middle of Melbourne, but it had to be a lot nicer to get people to come here,” Mr Spooner said.

“It will still have all the functions it did before, the Keno, footy tipping, the raffles, pool table, jukebox karaoke.”

Functions and weddings have been a big focus in the renovations, with areas created that flow but can also be segregated.

“White picket fences, green grass... who wouldn’t want to get married here, photos down at the beach, accommodation out the back for guests,” Mr Spooner said.

The former butcher’s shop to the left of the pub has also been transformed to be a cafe that will serve fresh coffee every day, along with food and ice cream, and a Liquor Legends bottle shop at the rear.

The building at the rear will be a cafe with fresh coffee and bottle shop.

Looking around the place, Mr Spooner couldn’t begin to calculate the hours they have both put into the place, with he and Mr Bishop doing most of the work themselves.

“I’d hate to guess, some days we have worked into the night just because of the availability of trades, getting something ready for the renderer before he gets here or the tiler, painter,” Mr Spooner said.

“There’s been a lot of blood, sweat, a few tears, some swear words but no punches thrown so that’s a good thing.

“We couldn’t have done it without the support of the local community and the tight-knit group of guys that have moved their lives for the last six months from the Gold Coast to help.”

The new look Keppel Sands Hotel Motel from the outside.

While the pub was closed for renovations, Mr Spooner said the locals were nothing but supportive. As a thank you, they will have a soft opening for locals only in the coming weeks.

“They are so happy to see someone doing something with the place,” he said.

“ (It’s) a nice way to reward the locals for their patience and give us time to show them all through the place.”

As they put the finishing touches on the place and iron out a few things behind the scenes, they hope to open to the public very soon.

Inside the fresh sports bar with pokies and gaming.

KEPPEL SANDS HISTORY

Keppel Sands is the southernmost town on the Capricorn Coast and has a population of 360 people (2016 Census), located 40km from Rockhampton.

Separated by Coorooman Creek from Emu Park and Yeppoon to the north and also on the beach, the township is centred on fishing and holiday making.

It was originally named Sandhills in the 1800s and began as coastal and grazing farm lands.

A primary school opened in 1893 and by the 1930s the town was a local holiday place with three boarding houses and a hotel and dance hall opened in 1935.

In 2018, the school had 28 students from prep to year six.