Sunshine Coast cafe and restaurant Kellys of Peregian parent company in liquidation

A devastating set of circumstances has combined to trigger the collapse of the company behind a popular family restaurant and cafe. Read about it here.

A Sunshine Coast father-of-six has revealed the tragic circumstances that sparked the collapse of his family’s hospitality company.

Kellys of Peregian on Kingfisher Drive, Peregian Beach has been a family-friendly cafe and restaurant since opening in early-2014.

Australian Securities and Investments Commission [ASIC] records state Kellys of Peregian Pty Ltd – trading as Kellys of Peregian – appointed Anthony Warner of CRS Insolvency Services as liquidator on August 19, 2022.

According to the Commission’s records the company’s director is Piiariikka Maria Kelly.

Mrs Kelly’s husband, former Kellys of Peregian Pty Ltd shareholder Gareth Kelly said the eatery “couldn’t survive” following Covid-19 restrictions, staff shortages, and his parents being involved in a tragic car accident earlier this year.

“My dad actually died at the scene but the paramedic revived him,” he said.

Mr Kelly – a father to six girls – said he couldn’t return to work at his family’s cafe as he became his parents’ full-time carer while they stayed at the Sunshine Coast University Hospital for months.

He said his mum left the hospital before his dad, and he became busy taking her to appointments and visit his dad twice a day.

Before this crisis, Mr Kelly said the cafe had already battled through restrictions and lockdowns during the pandemic, especially after a vaccine mandate late last year, which had left him forced to step in and help in the kitchen at times.

“[When we] were starting to hit our stride again, the vaccine mandate hit us like a ton of bricks,” he said.

He said the cafe lost key staff during this time and it struggled to replace them.

Mr Kelly said the company tried to stay afloat by cutting back its opening hours during a slow period, but it wasn’t possible.

“There was no sustainability,” he said.

CRS Insolvency Services liquidator Anthony Warner said the company went under because of Covid-19, staff shortages and the owner having family challenges.

He said the company currently owed a little less than $20,000 to suppliers in the region.