Murwillumbah’s iconic ‘haunted’ Imperial Hotel in Tweed Shire sold for an undisclosed sum

Ghost stories and a “turbulent history” ‘have not frightened off the buyers who snapped up a historic pink Tweed pub, which has retained its 1930s style.

The historic Imperial Hotel in Murwillumbah.

Ghost stories have not frightened off buyers who snapped up the historic pink Tweed pub The Imperial Hotel in Murwillumbah for an undisclosed sum.

Rumour has it the spirit of old Mrs Lee, who died in Room 23 in the late 70s or early 80s, lingers in the art deco and Spanish mission-style hotel, which was built about 90 years ago.

But hey, a deals a deal and the investors settled on the refurbished pub in the town’s CBD for a “confidential” price on Tuesday.

Former owner Shane Nugent spent considerable time and money restoring the original 1930s style of the hotel, complete with period tiling and lighting, a copper bar and unique fans.

The original 1930s style of the pub has been retained.

He retained the original bar front and re-used materials in customer areas.

Mr Nugent said he was proud of what he has achieved and looked forward to seeing the next chapter in the hotel’s life.

“After seven proud years of being the owner and calling the Imperial home, it’s now time to pass that responsibility onto new owners,” he said.

“Hopefully they will get the warm, friendly welcome I got from the locals.”

The Imperial Hotel is a well-known pub in the Tweed Shire.

The Imperial Hotel in Murwillumbah has been sold.

The man who brokered the deal, Mark Walsh of JLL Pubs and Hospitality, said Mr Nugent’s “painstaking work of passion” has created a hotel worthy of its iconic status.

He said the pub in the Tweed Valley draws patrons from across northern NSW and southeast Queensland.

“This is one of the most beautiful pubs in the region, and restored to a level that is worthy of both its heritage and iconic status,” he said.

Rod Prentice in “haunted” Room 23 at the Imperial Hotel, Murwillumbah for a previous Tweed Daily News story. Picture: John Gass

The hotel has a “turbulent history of fires, reconstruction, arson attacks and a mysterious legend of a resident ghost walking the upstairs corridors of the accommodation suites,” according to Murwillumbah Historical Society.

“ … the legend says that a lady cook employed by the hotel died of natural causes and is still there,” the society states.

“Another legend is that the robbers responsible for the famous 24 November 1978 robbery of the Bank of NSW in Murwillumbah (now the Westpac Bank) stayed at the hotel.

The Murwillumbah bank robbery crime scene in 1978. Picture: Supplied

The robbery was particularly successful, taking $1.7 million, with the (Tweed) Daily News newspaper’s front page headlines blaring “They Took the Lot”. This was Australia’s biggest bank robbery at the time and the robbers were never found, however, some enterprising locals made money from the event by producing and selling printed T-shirts featuring the robbery – great for tourism.”

The original hotel on the site, Higgins Imperial Hotel, was constructed before 1906, but burned down.