Rorkes liquidators uncover $7 million debts owed to creditors and employees

THE company behind Rorkes bar, that closed amid accusations of racism, may owe as much as $7 million to employees and creditors

The Rorke's pub located in the Darwin CBD, at the corner of Bennett and Smith Street, has now been put up for lease. Picture: Justin Kennedy

THE company behind defunct Darwin bar Rorkes may owe as much as $7 million to employees and creditors.

Rogers Reidy was appointed the liquidator of Monkey Business Holdings (MBH) Pty Ltd, which formerly traded as Rorkes Beer Wine Food, after the sole director Mitchell McNamee closed the failing Smith St bar on January 25.

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A report drawn up by the liquidator has revealed the full extent of the company’s financial affairs.

It lists more than $700,000 owed to former employees, who are priority creditors, including $670,483 in superannuation and $21,657 in unpaid wages.

The liquidator also listed a total of $7,332,312 in estimated liabilities.

“Mr McNamee attributes the company’s and MBH’s failure to significant overspends on the initial fit-out of the premises and high ongoing operating costs coupled with falling revenue in recent years,” the report says.

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“I am advised by the company’s sole director, Mr Mitchell McNamee, that MBH borrowed approximately $3 million from Westpac Banking Corporation to fund a fit-out of the premises.”

The liquidation is the latest bad news for Monkey Business Holdings Pty Ltd, which shut down their bar Rorkes on January 25.

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The pub closed shortly after revelations Mr McNamee allegedly sent messages to staff members saying: “I told you no blacks in my f**king bar” and telling staff to find excuses to bar Aboriginal people.

Mr McNamee said in January he “completely denies” ever telling his staff to deny service to black people. “Those are total falsities ... ”

The pub has been in financial strife since at least 2017, and the venue is for lease.