Racing identity expects to sell iconic pub for $15m

A Queensland racing identity is selling his Queensland pub and has already attracted interest from interstate buyers.

Racing industry identity and publican Leigh Wanless has put his Maryborough pub on the market. The Westside Tavern and Motel has been in his hands for 20 years and in the past decade he has also sold Maryborough’s Granville Tavern and Aussie Hotel.

The property, which is being marketed by Ray White Commercial’s Ryan Langham and Nathan Huxham, is expected to fetch around $15m.

On a 3.24ha site the property at 201 Gympie Rd, Tinana, also has seven retail shops, 96 parking bays, and 2ha of vacant land development approved for a 52 lot manufactured home estate.

A member of one of Queensland’s greatest racing families Wanless has been involved in harness and gallops racing for more than four decades.

Queensland racing industry identity and publican Leigh Wanless. Photo: Megan Pope / Fraser Coast Chronicle

He is the brother of Ron Wanless who founded recyclers, the Wanless Group.

Langham says they have discussed the sale of The Westside Tavern with various local and interstate buyers.

“The interest level indicates that this is an incredible opportunity attracting buyers back into the market who have been hibernating. This will surely grow when presented to the open market,” he says.

“Pubs have been historically some of the best assets to own and this one is exceptional with the land component which future proofs this asset through the ages.”

Front seat drivers

Australia is the most egalitarian society in the world - and it’s all about where we ride in a taxi. That’s according to Tien Chung-kwang, who now serves as Taiwan’s deputy foreign minister, but some City Beat readers will recall was a diplomat based in Brisbane between 2005 and 2008.

Your diarist caught up with Tien in Taipei last week where the minister addressed a delegation of foreign journalists on the growing threat of China to the island democracy. Tien told the journalists that when he first arrived in Brisbane he was amazed that everyone sat up front with the taxi driver. “Australians do not want to sit in the back because that would indicate they were better than the driver,” Tien said. “It was then that I realised Australians are the most egalitarian people in the world.” Tien also recalled his friendship with Campbell Newman, who was the Lord Mayor of Brisbane at the time. “We had a very good relationship,” he said. “I remember they used to call him the can do politician.”

View of the Taipei Skyline with Taipei 101.

World Cup Pundit

Brisbane legal eagle John Kettle has turned World Cup pundit after revealing a secret past as a bookmaker.

The McCullough Robertson partner has looked at the form of the various teams, having used his experience working as a bookmaker a student, and is backing an Argentine-Belgium final with the European team coming out the ultimate winner.

Belgium is often dubbed the most talented footballing nation never to win a World Cup. “I see this as the last chance for a fabulous Belgian generation, a team better than (Enzo) Scifo’s in the 1980s,” says Kettle.

Brisbane legal eagle John Kettle.

“Messi will want to bow out of the World Cup stage on a high, having not won a World Cup yet. However, this is a tournament beyond England and we are keeping a close eye on the US.” We hear other legal eagles at Kettle’s firm have different ideas. Sydney corporate partner Adrian Smith, an English ex-pat and lifelong Manchester City diehard, believes Bernardo Silva will lead Portugal to win while Welsh ex-pat partner Ben Wood says “give them some sugar, Wales!”

Kettle says that unfortunately no one can foresee any upside in this World Cup for Australia, who will have to be happy enough winning the Rugby League World Cup against Samoa.