Owners announce sale of Rockhampton’s Great Western Hotel

The owners of an iconic Queensland bull riding venue have announced it has sold. See how much it sold for.

Great Western Hotel owners Colin and Vickie Bowden.

Rockhampton’s iconic bull riding venue The Great Western Hotel has sold for $2m it can be revealed.

Colin and Vickie Bowden bought the venue in 2014 and spent $1.6m upgrading and renovating it.

The Great Western Hotel at the corner of Stanley and Denison Streets, Rockhampton City.

The Bowdens broke the news the venue had sold recently on social media.

“FYI – It has finally happened – SOLD,” Colin Bowden wrote.

“Vickie Bowden and myself purchased The Great Western Hotel in November 2014 off Ross Ford/Noel Schwartz and their family – bloody legends.

Great Western Hotel owners Vickie and Colin Bowden. Picture: Chris Ison

“We have had the most amazing ride over the last 9.5 years of ownership.

“Loved every minute.

“Thanks for the memories.”

The Morning Bulletin reports on the sale of the Great Western Hotel by Isabel Ryan to George Lockwood in June 1953.

The Rockhampton venue was formally listed for sale in July 2020, after owners Colin and Vickie Bowden with Denis Cox announced weeks prior they would be closing the venue for good as a result of COVID-19 and other factors including regulations around the Safe Night Precinct.

The Bowdens bought the venue in 2014 and spent $1.6m upgrading and renovating it.

It was listed for sale in July 2020 and an auction was planned for August but had to be cancelled due to travel restrictions.

Aaron Kleier on Tenacious at the PBR bull riding event at the Great Western Hotel. Picture: Chris Ison

It was first listed for $2.45m and was lowered to $1.95m, with an option to lease.

A group of businessmen, Michael Simpson of Brisbane, Mick Kearney of Sydney and Glen Young of Townsville, took over the lease and reopened the hotel in May 2021.

Established in 1862, The Great Western Hotel is known as one of the most iconic and unique pubs in Australia.

Lee Kernaghan performing at the Great Western Hotel.

The venue is well known for the bull riding arena where many bull riders have begun their careers.

It has also hosted countless music and entertainment acts, including Icehouse, Midnight Oil, The Screaming Jets and Jon Stevens of Noiseworks and INXS.

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