Sunshine Coast, Noosa business who shut shop in 2024
From high-end French restaurants to cocktail bars and local construction companies, 2024 has seen a number of local Sunshine Coast and Noosa businesses call it quits and permanently shut shop. See the list.
Sunshine Coast
Don't miss out on the headlines from Sunshine Coast. Followed categories will be added to My News.
From high-end French restaurants to cocktail bars and local construction companies, 2024 has seen a number of local Sunshine Coast and Noosa businesses call it quits and permanently shut shop.
Here are the local companies and businesses that closed their doors this year.
Restaurants
Frenchies Brasserie – Noosa
The company, which operated the high-end Noosa venue Frenchies Brasserie Noosa, Bix Investments Pty Ltd, went into voluntary liquidation on August 7, 2024, appointing Nicarson Natkunarajah to complete the winding up.
The French restaurant on Thomas St, Noosaville had previously been placed in voluntary administration in April.
The liquidation came after the company’s director and Sydney restaurateur, David Singer, suddenly closed his three Noosa venues in August, informing staff in an email.
JD’s Chicken Co – Noosa
JD’s Chicken Co, another venue operated by Bix Investments Pty Ltd, abruptly closed down at the same time as Frenchies Brasserie.
Apero Wine Bar – Noosa
The third Noosa venue operated by Mr Singer, Apero Wine Bar, was also closed along with Frenchies Brasserie and JD’s Chicken Co.
The business formed part of the Bix Investments Pty Ltd company.
The wine bar boasted river views positioned at 203 Gympie Tce, Noosaville.
La Maison du Patissier – Kawana
The popular French cafe in Meridan Plains abruptly closed its doors in December, less than a year after new owners took over the much-loved business.
A recent social media post announced the closure of Meridan Plains cafe La Maison du Patissier, citing a “very difficult situation”.
“Unfortunately we have to let you know some bad news, we have had to shut the shop effective immediately,” the post stated.
“We have been put in a very difficult situation which we are unable to disclose any information about, but has ultimately forced us into liquidation.
“We would like to thank everyone who has supported the business through the years and apologise to those we have let down. We didn’t want it to be this way but can’t fix the damage that has been done.”
An Australian Securities and Investment Commission notice stated the company behind the cafe, AJCM Group Pty Ltd, entered liquidation on Tuesday, December 3.
Liquidator Clifford Sanderson was appointed to wind the company up.
Herbert – Noosa
The “conscious plant-centric” restaurant, Herbert, at 1 Arcadia St, in Noosa Heads, also announced its closure back in August due to “challenging times”.
The restaurant was opened in 2021 by Noosa residents Alex McKechnie and Leon Johnston, with a focus on delivering “next level cocktails”, according to the venue’s website.
In a social media post made on the Herbert page, the owners wrote they were left with no choice but to close the venue immediately due to “challenging times”.
“It is with deep regret and sorrow that I must announce the permanent closure of Herbert Restaurant, effective today,” the post stated.
“Despite our best efforts to sustain the business during these increasingly challenging times, the restaurant has unfortunately been unsustainable for quite a while. I no longer have any choice and have to cease operations.”
The Celler – Caloundra
In March, the waterfront Caloundra venue, The Celler, permanently closed, with the owners citing significant challenges.
The wine bar and restaurant opened up on the first floor of a waterfront block at 26 Esplanade Bulcock Beach, next door to the Sandbar Cafe and Kiosk in 2021.
According to Australian Securities and Investments Commission documents, Derek Murphy acted as the sole director and secretary for D.M.A.H Enterprises Pty Ltd, which traded as the Sandbar Cafe and Kiosk and The Celler, up until the company entered voluntary liquidation in February 2024.
Owner of The Celler, Derek Murphy, said at the time consecutive rent increases of eight and six per cent had left them with no choice but to close the wine bar down, as well as “significant” annual management fees.
“Last year we sought the assistance of QCAT (Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal) and through mediation successfully gained a reduction of management fees for 12 months, however the landlord in December last year decided once again with inflation running at six per cent to further increase the rent,” Mr Murphy said.
Liquidator at Worrels, Paul Nogueira was appointed to the company, D.M.A.H Enterprises, on February 20, 2024.
Gin-ja – Noosa
The Asian restaurant and bar, Gin-Ja, on Thomas St in Noosaville announced its closure on social media in September, after the community questioned whether the venue was still trading.
The venue owner, Aaron Whitney, responded in a social media comment the closure had followed a “bad business decision”.
“I’m sorry everyone. Yes I had to close the doors … I had so much fun over the years … Thanks for everyone’s support. Was a bad business decision that had me make this choice,” Mr Whitney stated in the comment.
The company behind the venue, Jas Noosa Pty Ltd, was first registered in October 2022, according to Australian Securities and Investments Commission documents.
Little Sister – Noosa
The popular Noosa venue, Little Sister, permanently closed its doors in May and brought in liquidators after accumulating more than $300,000 in Australian Taxation Office legacy debts.
The company, Lit Sis Pty Ltd, which operated the Hastings St cocktail bar Little Sister appointed liquidator Paul Nogueira and voluntarily wound the company up on May 16, 2024.
Little Sister, which was located in unit 28B at 18 Hastings St, first opened at the end of 2019 in Noosa Junction, according to the Australian Securities and Investments Commission documents.
The ASIC documents reveal the company was founded by John Curtiss, who remained the director and secretary up until the company wound up.
Baxter’s Bar and Deli – Noosa
The company Beach Brothers Pty Ltd, which traded as Baxter’s Bar and Deli, brought in liquidator at Vincents, Nick Combis, shortly after the closure of the Noosaville venue in June.
According to Australian Securities and Investments Commission documents the company had two founding directors, David Howard and James Westley, who both remained in those roles until the company entered liquidation.
ASIC documents state the business first opened on Gibson Rd, Noosaville in September 2022.
Liquidator Mr Combis previously said the Noosaville bar had been impacted by increased running costs and reduced discretionary spending, which continued to plague the hospitality industry.
“The many businesses in the hospitality industry which have recently failed, including (the) struggling hospitality industry in general, (are impacted by) the current economic climate causing discretionary spend to reduce significantly and increased business costs (electricity, wages, raw materials etc),” Mr Combis said.
Argo Bar and Restaurant – Buderim
An Australian Securities and Investments Commission notice stated Grounded at Woombye Pty Ltd and Grounded at Mooloolaba Trust and Dolan family Trust were placed in liquidation on Wednesday, July 24.
The company operated the two Grounded cafes in Woombye and Mooloolaba.
A separate ASIC notice also stated Grounded at Buderim, the company behind the Argo Bar and Restaurant, had been placed with liquidators.
Liquidators at Olvera Advisors, Anthony Phillip Wright and Mohammed Mirzan Bin Mansoor, were appointed to the companies to complete the winding up.
It is understood the Argo Bar and Restaurant venue and the Mooloolaba Grounded cafe have both closed their doors, however the Woombye site remained open.
Paradise Rum – Mooloolaba
The companies Paradise Rum Pty Ltd and Civil Projects Australia Pty Ltd, which traded as Paradise Rum Bar, both entered liquidation on January 17.
The Paradise Rum brand operated as two separate companies which ran the bar and bistro at Mooloolaba and a distillery venue at Warana.
SV Partners liquidator Jason Cronan previously said across the two companies it was estimated about $1.2m was owed to multiple creditors including the Australian Taxation Office and suppliers.
Mr Cronan said about $900,000 was owed to related parties as an investment into the businesses.
In Mr Cronan’s update provided in December, he said both businesses remained closed as they continued to look for new owners.
Building companies
Dynasty Property Developments
The Sunshine Coast shed company, Dynasty Property Developments Pty Ltd, entered liquidation earlier this year, appointing SV Partners liquidator David Stimpson on Tuesday, May 7, 2024.
According to Australian Securities and Investments Commission documents, Kathleen Hansen is both the director and secretary of the company, which was based in Pelican Waters.
The previous director and secretary is listed as Trent Shaw, according to the corporate regulator’s documents, who acted in those roles up until May 2022.
The company was last estimated to owe creditors about $1m.
Shore Homes
The Yaroomba-based building company, Shore Homes Pty Ltd, directed by Joshua Baxter, entered liquidation in June this year.
Liquidator Kaily Chua previously said the company’s building licence was suspended by the Queensland Building and Construction Commission on May 28, 2024 due to a failure to satisfy financial requirements.
The licence was ultimately cancelled on June 27, 2024, with a Queensland Building and Construction Commission record search revealing the license remained cancelled as of December 17.
Australis Construction
The Birtinya-based company, Australis Construction Pty Ltd, was placed into voluntary liquidation in September, appointing liquidator Nick Combis.
Australian Securities and Investments Commission documents show Scott Peter Jury was appointed as the director of the company in June this year.
Documents revealing the estimated debts for the construction company were published to the corporate regulator on Wednesday, September 11.
The director’s report on company activities estimates the total debt owed to creditors to be about $6.94m.
According to the figures advised by Mr Jury, the company owes the Commonwealth Bank of Australia the largest debt, totalling $6.8m.
25+ exceptional real estate staff of 2024
Real estate agencies across the Sunshine Coast have nominated some of their most outstanding staff members to recognise their hard work, commitment and support.
Man fighting for life after Christmas morning rollover
A man has been rushed to hospital in a potentially life-threatening condition after he became trapped in his car in a rollover, significantly injuring his head.