Noosa Reef, Surfair and Pelican Waters Tavern snapped up in less than two months

Almost $45m has been splashed on three Sunshine Coast pubs in less than two months as former owners called last drinks.

Brisbane property and retail entrepreneur Greg Josephson snapped the Noosa Reef Hotel for just under $14m, which was one of three Sunshine Coast hotels sold since March 31.

Almost $45m has been splashed on three Sunshine Coast pubs in less than two months as former owners called last drinks.

ALE Property Group recently sold Pelican Waters Tavern and the Noosa Reef Hotel and the Scanlon family also offloaded Surfair at Marcoola in an off-market sale.

Industry heavyweights Hotel Property Investments and Australian Venue Co snapped up the iconic Surfair after a discreet sales campaign by HTL Property's Glenn Price and Brent McCarthy.

It is believed the beachfront hotel sold for $20m.

Having previously sold the hotel to the Scanlon family's Suncoast Hotel Group, Mr Price said it was rewarding to be tapped again to manage the family's exit.

"It is a credit to the Scanlon family for what they have created at the hotel, and regarding the solid business that has stemmed from their tireless efforts over the last seven years of ownership," property director Mr Price said.

Surfair vans in front of the Surfair International Hotel, David Low Way, Marcoola, August 1980.

"The business has undoubtedly become one of the leading hotels on the Sunshine Coast during the family's tenure."

Mr Price said the hotel was in safe hands under the new ownership with Hotel Property Investments the landlord and Australian Venue Co the operator.

It adds to Australian Venue Co's operations on the Sunshine Coast which includes Chancellors Tavern, Currimundi Hotel, The Sands Maroochydore and Kings Beach Tavern.

A classic Noosa watering hole also recently sold after being advertised as a "rare opportunity to acquire a historic asset within one of the country's most desirable locations".

Auction sources told News Corp that Brisbane property and retail entrepreneur snapped up the two-storey Noosa Reef Hotel for $13.9m.

Mr Josephson with his brother Michael founded Universal Store in 1999 with a their first store in Carindale in Brisbane's east.

The sale was led by JLL Property Investments and the April 27 auction attracted 10 registered bidders.

Meanwhile Pelican Waters Tavern sold at auction $3m over reserve on March 31 to Australia's largest pub operator ALH Group for $10.8m.

Above a dozen parties were locked in "strong and aggressive" bidding at the Burgess Rawson Queensland auction.

Director Glenn Conridge said the hotel's size, waterfront location and attachment to a shopping centre made it an attractive buy.

He said the four-week sales campaign for the hotel previously owned by ASX-listed ALE Property Group attracted almost 400 inquiries.

Mr Price said the Queensland hotel market had "exploded out of the gates" this calendar year following a high level of transactions towards the end of last year.

"The sheer depth of qualified buyers is the strongest it has been in the last 10 years with every week, new interstate entrants contacting our office looking to conclude transactions," he said.

"This, coupled with robust interest from seasoned private and institutional groups already in situ, dictates that quality hospitality property is being hotly contested both via on and off-market sales campaigns."

Originally published as Noosa Reef, Surfair and Pelican Waters Tavern snapped up in less than two months