Ross River Resort owners Grollo Group announce beloved holiday spot will close to the public
Holiday-makers have reacted with sadness and disbelief at news a beloved resort visited by generations of Territorians will now only be available for functions and group bookings. Here’s what we know so far.
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A beloved Central Australian resort, visited by generations of Territorian holiday-makers, has announced it will close to the general public and be available only for group bookings, functions and festivals.
Ross River Resort, located at the foot of the East MacDonnell Ranges, published a short statement titled ‘Moving forward’ on Saturday, confirming the new arrangements.
“Ross River Resort owners, management and staff would like to thank all our valued guests and locals who have supported us over the years,” the statement read.
“After much deliberation, we have made the difficult decision to close our business to the general public starting 1st October 2024.
“Moving forward, we will only be catering to group events, functions and festivals.”
Former guests reacted to the news with sadness.
“How very sad... my husband and I have been going there since the seventies and have always loved going there,” said one woman.
Another said the resort’s closure to the general public was a damaging blow to Central Australia’s tourist economy.
“I don’t even have words to express how I feel about this announcement, complete shock,” she said.
“I always talk up the East McDonald [sic] Ranges and tell people to stop at Ross River for lunch or the night.
“I started my Alice Springs life there, had my wedding there, visit yearly and whenever I get a chance in between.
“This will be a massive loss.”
Ross River Resort, which can trace its history back to the 1898 construction of the Loves Creek Homestead at the centre of the current business, began operating as a tourism venture in the mid 1960s after its purchase by a pair of Adelaide brothers, Doug and Gil Green, in 1957.
Since 2001, the resort has been owned by the Grollo Group, a Victorian-based tourism and development company helmed by Rino and Diana Ruzzene Grollo.
The Grollo Group was contacted for comment as to what factors drove its decision to scale back operations at the resort.
Tourism Central Australia chief executive Danial Rochford said the outlook for tourism businesses in the region remained uncertain.
“The closure of any tourism business will have an impact on our region and it comes on the back of a number of businesses already having to shut their doors from Covid-19 onwards,” Mr Rochford said.
“I’ve been saying for some time the industry is still in a fragile position.
“We’re far from out of the woods in terms of turning the ship around.”
Mr Rochford said three main factors were driving soft visitor numbers to the region: cost of living pressures, the increasing availability of affordable short-haul international flights, and the crime and social issues that continue to plague Central Australia.
On the plus side, Mr Rochford noted a new tourism venture, operated by a born and bred Territorian couple, was expected to open in the East MacDonnell Ranges in the coming weeks.
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