Alice Springs motel where Princess Diana stayed during visit has redevelopment approved
A developer has cleared the first hurdle required to spruce up an old motel in the Red Centre – which one housed Princess Diana during her royal visit to the Red Centre. Find out more.
Alice Springs
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An old motel in Alice Springs – which once housed the English prince and princess during their visit to Australia – is set to receive a new lease on life, but the new owners still have some hurdles to overcome before the site is restored to its former glory.
The Development Consent Authority has approved an application by Family Income and Properties Pty Ltd to rezone 119 Gap Rd, The Gap from “dwelling-multiple” to “hotel motel”.
The rezoning means the site is set to return to its original use, before it became affordable housing under the National Rental Affordability Scheme.
The address began its life in 1981 as a motel, and within two years of opening housed royalty: Princess Diana and then Prince Charles during their visit to Alice Springs in 1983.
While the couple was originally supposed to stay at the casino, flooding prevented them, leading them to stay at the Gap Motel, as it was then called.
At the time, it was believed to be the first time English royalty had stayed in a motel during a royal visit.
The motel then changed hands a few times, before it was acquired by Ethan Affordable Housing in 2012.
However, Ethan Affordable Housing was liquidated in 2019, with the matter currently before the Federal Court of Australia.
The liquidator has accused the former directors of Ethan Affordable Housing, Ashley and Cielo Fenn, of funnelling $5.4 million into their own personal accounts.
The court has made no findings against the pair, who argue the payments received were compliant with agreements in place with investors, the national masthead reported.
The site was sold off by the Ethan Affordable Housing liquidator, with the buyer turning the site into Airport Apartments.
Family Income and Properties acquired the site in 2023 for $3.8 million.
Company director Sahaj Preet filed the application to rezone the site, and attended the DCA meeting in Alice Springs in December where it was approved.
Approving the development, the DCA said “the hotel/motel use is likely to compliment the intended zone by providing accommodation option to tourists”.
Mr Preet’s application stated the 50 rooms at the site would be upgraded, with no external changes being made.
Mr Preet said the renovations would see the room which Princess Diana stayed in given a “royal look”.
The DCA said Mr Preet must now obtain a building permit “before commencing any demolition or construction works”, as per the NT Building Act 1993.
Mr Preet said once the building permit was filed, which he is hoping to have done by March, more extensive works would begin.
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