Rockhampton’s Victoria Tavern is up for sale

A popular Central Queensland pub that has been owned by the same family for more than 40 years is up for sale, with prices expected to reach about $5.5 million.

The Victoria Tavern is up for sale. Picture: Contributed

A popular Rockhampton pub that has been owned by the same family for more than 40 years is up for sale, with prices expected to reach about $5.5 million.

The Victoria Tavern, on the corner of Musgrave and Bridge Streets in Berserker, is being sold by Bencheer Pty Ltd as trustee for the Langdon Family Trust, with the property having been owned by the Mitchell family for 44 years.

Fourth-generation publican Sue Mitchell has run the Victoria Tavern for the past 30 years, with her family also owning and operating many hotels and motels within the Rockhampton region for the past 60 years.

Ms Mitchell said the Victoria Tavern was a local landmark, known for its traditional XXXX Man standing proudly over the front door.

“He has been watching the comings and goings on busy Lakes Creek Road for so many years,” she said.

“The pub is the longest running family operated independent hotel in the region and has stood the test of time as a solid business within the ever-changing hotels industry.

“The diverse mix of income streams has provided a good balance during different trading periods and economic conditions.

“Over time we have made improvements, with the property completely rebuilt in 1990, and the beer garden and function area added in 2020.”

She said the hospitality and hotel industry had provided good financial rewards and a very social and comfortable lifestyle over the decades, but now was the right time for a change.

“We feel new owners could take the hotel onto the next stage of development,” she said.

The Victoria Tavern will be taken to the market via an Offers to Purchase campaign run by Knight Frank agents Tony Fenlon and Pat O’Driscoll.

The property is a two-storey building consisting of a main bar, bistro, beer garden, 20 gaming machines, and rooftop dining and function area, plus a dual lane drive through bottle shop.

It is situated on a 3330 sqm block across three titles, with 1728 sqm of floor space in the hotel.

Price expectations are about $5.5 million.

Mr Fenlon said it was expected there would be very strong interest in the property during the sales campaign from potential buyers due to its location, future potential and current strength in the hotels market.

“Victoria Tavern is only 600 metres from the Rockhampton CBD,” he said.

“It is close to some of the biggest businesses in the area, as well as the backpackers and caravan park, and plenty of recreational facilities, including Callaghan Park Racecourse, the Rockhampton Cricket Grounds, AFL grounds, touch football fields and a junior rugby league field.

“The hotel market in Rockhampton is very buoyant, evident by the recent sales of other local hotels including The Heritage Hotel and Kalka Palms Hotel.

The recently sold Heritage Hotel in Rockhampton.

“In particular, hotels with the complete package like Victoria Tavern, including gaming, retail liquor and a strong on-premises trade, are in strong demand from buyers.

“The current owners do have preliminary plans for a liquor barn and drive through coffee shop on the vacant 1500 sqm block located to the west of the hotel.

“Rockhampton is increasingly popular with investors, who are attracted to our resilient and stable economy, and infrastructure boom, with over $3 billion in projects currently under way in the region, creating growth.”

The Offers to Purchase campaign closes at midday on April 17.

Originally published as Rockhampton’s Victoria Tavern is up for sale