Council wins four-year battle to protect famous Normanby Hotel as developer drops tower plan

A controversial tower plan next to a historic Brisbane pub has been dropped but the new publican, who’s spent $3.5 million restoring it, reserves the right to develop the site in future.

Cr Peter Matic outside the Normanby Hotel in Red Hill. Council has won a four-year fight to stop a unit tower next to the pub. Picture: Richard Walker

A CONTROVERSIAL tower plan next to a historic Brisbane pub has been completely axed but the new publican says he reserves the right to develop the site in future.

The heritage-listed Normanby Hotel has been saved — for now — from the prospect of development by the withdrawal of a court appeal.

New Normanby Hotel owner Jaz Mooney said he “reserved the right” to develop the site in future but promised residents were “the number one most important people to me” and his “life and blood”.

“I don’t think I’m a developer, I’m more a publican,” he said.

“Anything I do in the future, (I’ll) always consult the residents, because they deserve to come along on the journey with us.”

Mr Mooney took over the 129-year-old pub less than five months ago and has spent $3.5 million in restoring it.

“We stand in one of the best historic pubs in Australia, not just in Brisbane, and there’s no doubt that the job that we’ve done here represents what should be done,” he said.

“There’s a big history to the Normanby – as I think you people know more than I do … and we respect all history and the great thing is, if you get Alfie Langer, ask him all about the history of the Normanby.”

Jaz Mooney and Shaun Dunleavy at the newly renovated Normanby Hotel in Red Hill. Picture: AAP/Richard Walker

The Irish publican is also responsible for restoring the Grand Central Hotel at Central Station in the CBD, and said his passion for heritage restoration came from his homeland.

“I come from Ireland and old buildings in Ireland are restored and they’re restored in the proper way, which I believe this one has been, Grand Central under Central Station has been, and again, going back to Australia’s heritage – it has to be protected,” he said.

He said they were “50/50” on the now completely axed proposed plans.

“We always thought: ‘Is this what we want to do?’,” he said.

‘If we got the application through from the old owners to the new owners, we would have quite gladly taken up that application.”

Paddington Ward Councillor Peter Matic said Brisbane City Council had been fighting to save the heritage hotel from being impacted by an inappropriate development since 2016, and was relieved the community finally had some closure.

“Council stands by its original decision in 2016 to reject the proposed 15-storey tower (and underground nightclub) that would have been completely out of character with the neighbouring red-brick character buildings and Queenslander homes,’’ he said.

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“Council is focused on building the infrastructure our city needs while protecting the look and feel of our suburbs and the withdrawal of this appeal is a huge win for the community.’’

Cr Matic called Council’s original refusal of the project “an enormous win for the community and people power”.

The saga began in October, 2015, when Council forced the then owners to repeat community consultation because they had not correctly advertised the proposed development.

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Inside the newly renovated Normanby Hotel. Picture: AAP/Richard Walker

In May, 2016, Council rejected the project after 100 public submissions against it, including from Cr Matic who had been a vocal critic.

The former owners appealed Council’s refusal in the Planning and Environment Court but later sold the pub.

New owners, Pelathon Management Group, who signed a lease with an option to buy the freehold earlier this year, recently completed a $3 million renovation.

They also announced the end of the pub’s notorious Sunday Sessions and have reoriented the hotel to make it more appealing to families.

Cr Matic acknowledged the past four years had been stressful for residents.

“I am glad we finally have some closure,’’ he said.

“We are focused on building the infrastructure our city needs while protecting the look and feel of our suburbs and the withdrawal of this appeal is a huge win for the community.

“Red Hill is unique suburb full of character, with the Normanby Hotel a much-loved landmark for local residents and visitors to the areas.

“The new lessee of this hotel has just revived the space, giving it a great facelift to ensure it remains a favourite local spot for residents now and into the future.”

Council officers raised several concerns in their 2016 refusal, including issues surrounding the public notification process, and said the project would have an “unreasonable impact on traffic” and would “detrimentally affect the amenity of the surrounding area”.

Then city planning chairman (now federal LNP MP for Ryan) Julian Simmonds said the scale of the building was out of character with the heritage tin and timber precinct.

“The Normanby Hotel has been a local landmark since 1890 and is listed both on council and state government heritage registers,’’ Cr Simmonds said at the time.