Kortes Resort sells to Rockhampton Leagues Club: Plans mount for exciting new club

As plans progress on the redevelopment of part of Kortes Resort north of Rockhampton, the family behind the adored local venue has moved to reassure residents of its ongoing commitment to the community. Read what the Kortes’ new partnership with Rockhampton Leagues Club means.

Never fear, the Korte family is here to stay.

With news spreading about the Rockhampton Leagues Club purchasing Korte’s Resort at Parkhurst, Bill Korte wanted to remind the community the Korte family will not be going anywhere.

Under the new partnership, the Korte Group will retain the management of the 54-room motel, restaurant and pool area while the Rockhampton Leagues Club will take over the function facility.

“We aren’t going anywhere, we have realised this is the growth corridor and it can only go one way and that is up, “ Mr Korte said.

“It can’t go backwards, this is the way the town is growing.”

The Rockhampton Leagues Club revealed to this publication last month its plans to redevelop part of the Korte’s facility into a club, which would be rebranded ‘Club Parkhurst’.

Deputy chair of the Rockhampton Leagues Club board Scott Moss said the new partnership would benefit everyone.

The redevelopment will create 40 to 50 extra jobs, which will be able to be filled from the growing residential community.

“The resort, the accommodation, restaurant, and now the addition of the club facility will complete the hospitality offering,” he said.

Paperwork is still underway for the sale of the property and is expected to be completed around September.

It is hoped construction would be completed by 2024.

Development plans include extending the existing function building by about 600 sqm, adding an additional dining option, sports bar and lounge area, increasing the capacity to around 600 guests.

There would also be a spacious reception and cafe area with indoor and outdoor seating, a courtyard and kids play area.

Mr Korte said the Club’s plan lined up with what he had originally envisaged for the site.

“We were trying to do something very similar to what the Leagues Club had already drawn up,” he said.

Rockhampton Leagues Club general manager Danny Finch said the key word for the club was ‘community’.

“We have identified there is nothing established that is community support focused in a massive housing growth corridor through Parkhurst and beyond,” he said.

“With the Ellida community development across the other side of the railway tracks, as well as the extra 400 housing sites announced a couple of weeks ago out at Glenlee, there is a massive want and need for a facility to support that community within Parkhurst.”

Kortes Resort was opened in late 2015 and boasts 4.5 stars, only missing out on 5 stars because it doesn’t have a reception open 24 hours.

Over the years, the business has won a swag of awards, which Mr Korte said was due to the personalised service.

“We go out of our way to be very hands-on ourselves, we work seven days a week. We give that personalised service, no one is a number, everyone has a name,” Mr Korte said.

“I inject that into all our staff we have.

“It pays off … people stay here because of us, because they get looked after.”