Andrew ‘Twiggy’ Forrest poised to buy iconic Cottesloe restaurant Indiana
Perth mining magnate Andrew Forrest wears a lot of hats outside chairing FMG but is he about to add restaurateur to the list?
Perth mining magnate Andrew Forrest wears a lot of hats outside chairing Fortescue Metals Group but is he about to add restaurateur to the list?
It’s understood Forrest, a renowned lover of fine food and wine, is poised to buy the iconic Cottesloe foreshore restaurant Indiana. The historic Indiana, built in 1910 on Forrest’s local beach and known for many years as Indiana Tea Rooms, is said to be WA’s most photographed building.
Today’s Post newspaper, a Perth suburban, reports that Forrest is in talks to buy the restaurant from local restaurant group Fraser’s in partnership with massive national restaurant group Red Rock Leisure (P.J. O’Brien’s Irish). The site is owned by the City of Cottesloe.
A spokesperson for Forrest’s private Minderoo Group of companies confirmed to The Australian that discussions were underway but said it was premature to discuss any plans for the restaurant, which has enjoyed mixed reputation in recent years.
Currently a casual burger and pizza place, Indiana did not warrant a mention in the 2018 WA Good Food Guide. Fraser’s shareholder Chris Taylor did not return our calls.
It’s understood that, apart from making much-needed investment in the site, Forrest has far grander plans for what could be one of Perth’s most coveted restaurant sites. Many prominent Eastern states restaurateurs have considered the site in the past including Stokehouse (Brisbane and Melbourne) owner Frank Van Haandel.
The Forrests are one of Cottesloe’s best known families. Just down Marine Parade, a truffle-throw from Indiana, they are currently converting the 120-year-old property Tukurua, bought in 2015 for $16 million, into a massive family compound with new structures and project planning by Perth’s internationally renowned architect Kerry Hill.
Regarded as Australia’s biggest philanthropist (total commitments thus far $847 million) Forrest has numerous business interests in the agriculture and food sector including the Harvey Beef brand, olive oil and water. His total pastoral holdings including Minderoo Station in the state’s Pilbara now exceed 10,000 square kilometres.
Once Australia’s richest man, Forrest is now ranked seventh, according to Forbes, with a fortune worth $4.5 billion.
With a keen interest in marine ecology and a near-completed PhD in the subject, he has recently acquired 56 metre research ship Pangaea Ocean.
Explorer was spotted moored off WA’s prestigious Bunker Bay holiday community In the South West last week with a massive water slide affixed to the top deck.