Former footy players Tallis, Gregorski, Prince to buy Rockhampton pub

A group of footy legends are among the high-profile names investing in a 126 year-old Central Queensland hotel. Find out who they are and how anybody can get involved.

Gorden Tallis, Scott Prince, Nick Gregorski and Mark Knowles are part of the People's Pub for The Heritage Hotel Rockhampton with founder Gavin Shuker.

Rockhampton’s Heritage Hotel is in process of selling, with former sports legends Gorden Tallis, Nick Gregorski, Mark Knowles and Scott Prince among the list of buyers.

Former World Cup touch player and Rockhampton businessman Gavin Shuker has launched expressions of interest for what he is calling The Heritage People’s Pub, which offers people the chance to buy a “brick” in the Rockhampton riverfront Heritage Hotel.

There are 1,250 bricks up for grabs at $5,000 a piece with six well-known sportsmen, including one with a “local flavour”.

“Everyone dreams about owning a pub,” Mr Shuker said.

“It would be great to have The Heritage stay as a private corporation rather than a big conglomerate and stay local.”

The idea of a people’s pub has been in Mr Shuker’s mind for a while and he floated it with some friends to see if it would stack up.

“I’ve always had people ask me if I ever do something, they would like to be in it,” he said.

“It was something a little bit different that I thought would work up here.”

Gavin Shuker at the Rocky Sports Club.

Keen to get some big names on board, Mr Shuker approached some sports stars he thought would suit.

“The people I approached, the main criteria is they had to be good people, all of them are great people, they bring different skill sets,” he said.

“We have a local with Mark Knowles, Gorko (Nick Gregorski) has business experience with pubs, the most successful pub in Brisbane, Gorden Tallis and Scotty Prince, Queensland legends.

“They are all country people, whether they live in the city or not now, they all grew up in the country.”

Since launching the expressions of interest two days ago, he has been inundated with interest from New Zealand, South Australia, Sydney and locals.

The EOI will remain open for a few weeks and then they will send letters of offers out, with the goal to have everyone on board by mid-December and an opening launch with all of the owners.

Queensland Maroons legend Gorden Tallis. Photo: Tara Croser.

League legend Gorden Tallis spoke with The Morning Bulletin and couldn’t contain his enthusiasm at being part involved in owning a pub.

“To say you own a pub and walk in there and have a beer … I’m so excited,” he said.

“I really love the people of Rockhampton and can’t wait to meet everyone and have a beer.”

Tallis’ first made his State of Origin debut in 1994 and went on to play in 17 games, along with 54 games for the St George Dragons and 158 games for the Brisbane Broncos.

When Mr Shuker approached him with the idea, he joked he had to hide his excitement and act cool.

“It’s always been in the back of my mind to own a pub,” he said.

“I think it’s the right time, the timing couldn’t be better, and some of the guys in there … Nick Gregorski … everyone he touches has a good flavour to it.”

Growing up in Townsville, Tallis has been to Rockhampton countless times throughout his life.

“It’s the same old charm when I go to Rocky, I could be in Townsville,” he said.

“And Rod Reddy is from Rocky, I wouldn’t have my NRL career if it wasn’t for him.”

Pub-goers can expect to see him sitting at the bar having a beer, Tallis said.

“Absolutely, I’m working out a date now to be there, I’m so excited,” he said.

Nick Gregorski.

Nick Gregorski comes from a family of pubs and is now a fifth-generation publican.

The former rugby union star played with Super Rugby, Australian 7s and the Wallabies.

He grew up in The Grand View in Bowen and has been involved with some hotels in Brisbane and owns the Royal Hotel in Townsville.

Broncos coach Scott Prince. (Photo by Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images)

Scott Prince, the third sports star to be announced in the group of buyers, was born in Mount Isa and did his high schooling in Townsville.

He began his NRL career in the North Queensland Cowboys juniors and played for the Brisbane Broncos, Tigers and Gold Coast Titans, before retiring in 2013.

“I am a country kid at heart and the chance to get involved in such an exciting concept as The Heritage People’s Pub is something that I am looking forward to being involved with,” he said

“Having a drink or two and chatting to fellow brick holders community is going to be great and I can’t wait to see the project come to life.”

Mark Knowles

Rockhampton man Mark Knowles is another name to the list of sports legends.

The former hockey star took home a gold from the 2004 Olympics and in Athens, was named the 2014 World Players of the Year by the International Hockey Federation in 2015 and was also a flag bearer at the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games.

“I am extremely proud of being a Rocky and Central Queenslander and when the concept of the people’s pub was floated to me I had no hesitation to become involved,” Knowles said.

“I have always wanted to get involved in a project in my home town and this will be fantastic on a number of levels.

“To bring locals together to own a little bit of a pub is a dream that most people in their lifetime would never get a chance.”

The Heritage Hotel, Rockhampton

The three-storey hotel on Rockhampton’s riverfront was built in 1898 as a sister hotel to the famous Brisbane Regatta Hotel.

Mr Shuker revealed they have big plans for the future of the hotel, including installing a lift, a premium steak house and a sports bar which will feature a piece of memorabilia from each of the legends, including Knowles’ Olympic-winning hockey shirt in a frame.

“Rockhampton is known as the Beef Capital, but if you ask anyone in town for the best steakhouse, you could not name them,” Mr Shuker said.

They are also looking at plans for the first hidden bar in Rockhampton, which will be designed in a way to capture the history and age of the pub.

“It’s all the rage in Brisbane and metro cities… It’s something that is a growth area throughout the world,” Mr Shuker said.

Tom Busby and Jeremy Marou of Busby Marou. Picture Jackson Rafferty

Jeremy Marou of homegrown duo Busby Marou, through his business Maroon Events, is also on board and plans to bring music events to the hotel.

Brick owners will receive an exclusive owner’s card, discount on meals and drinks, invites to owners functions and partner activations including Great Northern (CUB), Treasury Wines, Bundy Rum and access to Rockynats’ premium viewing space.

The capital investment also has a 12-month buy back guarantee as a safety net.

Mr Shuker has a business background, with apparel label Inferno in more than 20 countries and having formed The Rocky Sports Club in 2018.

CQ PUB NEWS

New South Wales based company, the O’Hara Group, purchased two pubs in Rockhampton, in June earlier this year.

The company purchased the Parkhurst Tavern, in Rockhampton’s northern suburbs, and the Gracemere Hotel, just outside of Rockhampton, for upwards of more than $15 million each.

It also comes as national company, Aus Venue Co, revealed plans to renovate one of their Rockhampton venues, The Berserker Tavern, and extend with a new beer garden and kid’s playground.

Work has also begun to start demolishing the 60-room, seven-storey Leichhardt Hotel in Rockhampton’s CBD, also managed by Aus Venue Co.

A new single-storey venue will be built and include a sports bar, beer garden, indoor entertainment and dining area and gaming room.

To apply for a brick in The Heritage Hotel Rockhampton People’s Pub, head to heritagepeoplespub.com.au

Originally published as Former footy players Tallis, Gregorski, Prince to buy Rockhampton pub