Pub barons of Qld: Meet the people behind some of the best-known watering holes in the state
From emerging stars to long-established millionaires and billionaires, a diverse group of people operate the best-known local watering holes in Queensland. SEE THE LIST
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From emerging stars to long-established millionaires and billionaires, a diverse group of people operate the best-known local watering holes in Queensland.
Covering everything from large-capacity event spaces and concert venues, to welcoming outback watering holes and striking urban identities, Queensland has a vibrant pub scene with a diverse mix of establishments.
While many pubs that have come and gone over the years, others have stood the test of time, and yet more are growing to become household names – both to locals and the wider market.
Several of Queensland’s major pub owners have gone onto achieve remarkable success and earned recognition for their establishments, bringing their unique flair and business acumen to the industry.
Below, we introduces some of the people, families, and companies behind many of the state’s most well-known pubs and hotels.
BRUCE MATHIESON SNR
ALH GROUP
Rich lister Bruce Mathieson Senior is arguably the biggest name in the Queensland pub scene.
Worth an estimated $1.54 billion, Mathieson Snr built up his poker machine and pub empire through Australian Liquor and Hospitality (ALH Group) a joint venture with supermarket giant Woolworths.
The ALH Group operates more than 350 licensed venues, as well as bottle shops across Australia and employs over 15,000 people.
In Brisbane, the company runs more than 30 venues across the city including the Breakfast Creek Hotel and the Albany Creek Hotel.
In 2021, Woolworths bought out his stake in ALH in exchange for a minority stake of 14.6 per cent in the ASX-listed Endeavour Group, which operates in excess of 350 hotels.
In June 2022, Mathieson stepped down from the Endeavour Group board and was replaced by son Bruce Jr, who serves as the director of Endeavour Group and ALH Group.
DAVID TOMSIC
BLACK RHINO GROUP
While he is the son-in-law of a billionaire pub baron, the quiet, yet elusive David Tomsic has set about carving his own path in the industry, amassing a strong portfolio of venues.
Mr Tomsic is the head of the Black Rhino Group, which operates over 40 venues across the country, specialising in accommodation, entertainment, gaming, family bistros, and sports bars.
In Queensland, the group runs venues in regional towns such as the Royal on Ninety-Nine in Roma, Overlander Hotel in Mount Isa, Kalka Palms Hotel in Rockhampton, and the St George Hotel in the town of St George.
Mr Tomsic operates the venture alongside his wife Deborah Mathieson-Tomsic, who is the daughter of billionaire pub king Bruce Mathieson Senior.
Prior to establishing his pub empire, Mr Tomsic previously operated a building and construction company.
ROB COMISKEY
COMISKEY GROUP
A second generation publican, architect and developer, Rob Comiskey runs some of Queensland’s most well-known establishments alongside members of his family.
Mr Comiskey is a co-founder and Director of the Comiskey Group, which operates a group of venues across South East Queensland.
Established in 2004, the Comiskey Group has become one of Queensland’s most awarded hospitality businesses known for playing big in the world of entertainment, hotels and construction.
In the pub industry, the Comiskey Group operates the Eatons Hill Hotel, Samford Hotel, Dakabin Hotel, Sandstone Point Hotel, The Imperial Hotel (Eumundi), and The Doonan.
The group has built numerous shopping and commercial centres, subdivisions, hotels and restaurants, residential dwellings and even expanded into childcare at one time.
Mr Comiskey is the leader of the day-to-day operations at the Group’s hotels and resorts, while his brother David Comiskey is an engineer, with father Paul Comiskey a builder in his younger years.
TERRY MORRIS
MORRIS INTERNATIONAL/GOOD TIMES PUB GROUP
Dynamic entrepreneur Terry Morris found his way into the pub industry after enjoying considerable success in business ventures.
Mr Morris is well-known as the founder of the Gold Coast’s Carrara Markets and the owner of award-winning winery Sirromet Wines at Mount Cotton.
Prior to launching these popular enterprises, Mr Morris ran a successful insurance business and sat as a councillor on the Albert Shire Council.
In 1981, he launched Morris International – a database management and marketing company.
The growth of the business allowed him to invest in properties and business across the Gold Coast – including land at Carrara, that would eventually become the Carrara Markets.
He also bought a 200-hectare property at Mount Cotton that would become Sirromet Wines in 2000.
He is also behind The Good Times Pub Group, which has eight pubs across South East Queensland.
The Group is a family-owned, Queensland-based business with a focus on offering quality and value for its customers.
Venues incorporate modern gaming facilities, sports bars, accommodation and retail liquor, with 12 detached bottleshops.
The pubs owned by the group range from iconic country hotels to modern family-friendly taverns located across the Gold Coast, Scenic Rim, Lockyer Valley, Darling Downs and Ipswich.
Venues owned by the pub include the Pimpama Pavilion, Queens Arms Hotel, Burnside Tavern, Highland Park Tavern, Dugandan Hotel, Central Park Tavern, Australian Hotel, and the Tarampa Hotel.
Across all his businesses, Mr Morris employs more than 500 people.
Mr Morris has been inducted into the Gold Coast Business Hall of Fame for his success in business and hospitality.
TOM MCGUIRE
MCGUIRES HOTELS
Overseeing the largest family owned chain of hotels in Queensland, Tom McGuire lives and breathes pubs.
Mr McGuire is the director of the McGuire Hotels group which is one of Australia’s most well regarded pub and hotel operators.
He comes from four generations of hoteliers, with the family’s involvement in the industry dating back to the early 1900s.
Mr McGuire serves as the patriarch of the McGuire family, which has enjoyed considerable success in the industry, with the family owned and operated chain of hotels, reportedly valued at $185m in 2020.
A respected voice in the industry, Mr McGuire also served as the president of the Queensland Hotels Association, resigning from the role in 2023.
McGuires Hotels operates pubs and hotels across Brisbane and the Gold Coast, including the Alexandra Hills Hotel, Calamvale Hotel, Colmslie Hotel, Corinda Tavern, Junction Hotel, Logan Village Hotel, Paddo Tavern, Queenslander Marsden, RQs Robina, Tugun Tavern, and the Yarrabilba Hotel.
BOB EAST
AUSTRALIAN VENUE CO
A respected industry leader, Bob East has more than two decades of experience in hospitality and serves as the head of a dynamic company in the pub and hotel space.
Mr East serves as Chair of the Australian Venue Co, which operates over 200 venues across Australia.
The company runs venues ranging from the country’s best-loved pubs, bars and event spaces, including landmark institutions to humble locals.
The company Mr East heads tailors pubs to suit the local market rather than adopting a cookie-cutter approach.
In 2024, the Australian Venue Co acquired 10 venues owned by Hallmark Hospitality.
There are 95 venues owned by the company in Queensland stretching from Cairns all the way to the Gold Coast.
Popular venues owned by the group include the Airlie Beach Hotel, Bribie Island Hotel, Beenleigh Tavern, Carindale, Cleveland Sands Hotel, Club Hotel Waterford, Crown Hotel, Everton Park Hotel, Finn McCool’s Brisbane/Gold Coast, Fitzy’s Loganholme/Waterford, Friday’s, Hey Chica, Hope Island Tavern, Morayfield Tavern, Newnham Hotel, Port Office Hotel, Regatta Hotel, The Boundary Hotel, The Cavill Hotel, The Lord Alfred Hotel, and The Wickham.
Outside of his hospitality experience, Mr East is a respected figure in the tourism industry and was a former board chair for Tourism Australia.
He also established the Mantra Group which grew into the largest Australian-based hotel company.
Mr East was also an inaugural board member for the Gold Coast Suns.
STEVEN SHOOBRIDGE
STAR HOTELS
A Harvard graduate, Steven Shoobridge is at the helm of Queensland’s largest independently owned hospitality management company.
Mr Shoobridge serves as the managing director and chief executive of the Star Hotels group, which operates six accommodation venues, 53 licenced venues, and more than 115 retail liquor outlets, employing about 1200 staff across the country.
An alumnus of the Harvard Business School, Mr Shoobridge is an experienced owner with a strong history of working in the hospitality industry and has many investments across multiple industries.
In Queensland, the Star Hotels group Mr Shoobridge runs operates pubs and hotels spread right across Brisbane to all the way up to far north Queensland, with venues ranging from stylish and modern hotels to traditional local pubs.
Its popular pubs can be found in Ayr, Bargara, Brisbane, Beaudesert, Bowen, Bundaberg, Gladstone, Gympie, Gold Coast, Mackay, Maroochydore, Rockhampton, Stanthorpe, Townsville, Toowoomba, Tully, and Yeppoon.
Star Hotels bought its first hotel in 1996 and continues to make acquisitions and develop its venues to this day.
In 2021, the group bought the former Townsville Central Hotel, while in 2023 it acquired the historic Aspley Hotel.
NICK POLITIS
SEQ HOSPITALITY GROUP
Queensland billionaire rich lister and Sydney Roosters chairman Nick Politis owns several pubs and properties across the state after a major takeover bid launched last year.
Mr Politis is an owner of SEQ Hospitality Group, which operates and owns a host of pubs across Queensland.
SEQ Hospitality also forms part of the Fortitudo Group, which runs several pubs such as the Boathouse Tavern at Coomera, the QA Hotel at New Farm, Treetops Tavern at Burleigh Waters, Hope Island Cellars, the Ambassador of Redcliffe, the Trader Dukes pub at Caboolture, as well as a host of bottleshops.
In October 2024, the SEQ Hospitality Group announced a $77m cash take over bid for ASX-listed Queensland pub and shopping centre owner, the Eumundi Group.
The Eumundi Group began as a craft brewery on the Sunshine Coast before going onto acquire the likes of Ashmore Tavern on the Gold Coast, the Aspley Central Tavern, Aspley Shopping Centre and Aspley Arcade Shopping Village, and The Plough Inn in Brisbane.
Ultimately, SEQ Hospitality acquired the Eumundi Group for $80.6m in February 2025.
Raised in Ipswich and educated at Ipswich Grammar School, later University of Queensland, Mr Politis has gone onto have a successful career in business.
He ran a successful motor vehicle dealership and went on to become the first sponsor in rugby league – sponsoring the Sydney Roosters.
The colourful Greek-Australian later became the chairman of his beloved team, earning him the nickname “The Godfather”.
In a sign of his dedication to the club, he had the NRL premiership logo tattooed on his arm following the Roosters’ victory in the 2002 NRL Grand Final.
Originally published as Pub barons of Qld: Meet the people behind some of the best-known watering holes in the state
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