Hotel 'under offer' after sitting dormant for months

THE closure of one of Toowoomba's most prominent hotels in October 2018 came as a shock to the Toowoomba community.

UNDER OFFER: A deal is close to being struck for the lease of the Settlers Inn Hotel, which closed suddenly in October 2018. Picture: Bev Lacey

THE closure of the Settlers Inn Hotel in October 2018 came as a shock to the Toowoomba community.

After sitting dormant for 10 months, one of Toowoomba's most prominent buildings, on the intersection of James and Ruthven Sts, could once again come to life.

Queensland Hot Property managing director Leon Carlile confirmed that the site, which had been put up for lease, was under offer.

"We'll be able to make an announcement soon," he said.

In October last year a number of residents at the hotel were evicted from the upstairs section of the pub, which was shortly followed by the pub's closure.

At the time, pub co-owner Lachlan Anderson told The Chronicle the decision to close the hotel, and DeLacy's Hotel in North Toowoomba, was simply a business decision.

"Due to a cultural shift of people drinking less, plus choosing to drink at home rather than the pub, we have to make hard decisions," he said.

"Toowoomba has an oversupply of pubs and we are sad to have to close two of our family businesses."

The Anderson family has been in business in Toowoomba for more than a century and still owns DeLacy's and the Settler's Inn, in addition to the Norville Hotel, which remains open and is now the focus of their efforts.

Family patriarch John Anderson died last month after a 16-month battle with illness. He was remembered as a dedicated community member and hard-working publican.

Originally published as Hotel 'under offer' after sitting dormant for months