Developer Phillip Dohnt to demolish ‘disgusting’ Robe Haven Motel to build six houses as buyer demand grows

This old motel was responsible for holidaygoers having “the worst day they’ve ever had” – now it’ll be cleared for up-market real estate in an SA hotspot town.

The now-closed Robe Haven Motel last week. Picture: Dean Martin

A timber industry veteran is demolishing a “disgusting” longstanding motel to build houses in a prime part of Robe as demand grows for properties at the holiday hotspot.

Developer Phillip Dohnt was granted planning consent earlier this month to replace the Robe Haven Motel – which faces the picturesque Lake Butler Marina – with five two-storey houses and one single-storey house.

“The old motel’s past its use-by-date – it was just disgusting inside,” Mr Dohnt said.

“There was a review early in the year where people said it was the worst day they’ve ever had; it ruined their stay in Robe, staying at that motel.”

Mr Dohnt, the managing director at timber industry contractor LV Dohnt, last year bought the property for $2.8m.

Concept image for houses to be built at the former Robe Haven Motel site. Picture: Supplied

He closed the 20-room motel after the former operators’ lease ended in May this year.

“Upstairs, you’ll get beautiful sea views and harbour views; it’ll be quite magnificent viewing,” Mr Dohnt said.

“The whole aim of the project is to build some really beautiful buildings at Robe.”

Robe’s house prices have increased by more than 100 per cent since 2020, and experts earlier this month tipped the South-East coastal town to become the next Byron Bay as buyer demand grows.

Mr Dohnt said he was “very keen” to use locally produced cross-laminated timber to build the houses but he was still investigating its viability.

He originally set out to build eight houses but his plans were changed in response to local concerns over site density.

Amendments to the plan, approved by the Limestone Coast Southern Regional Assessment Panel, also lowered the height of houses from 8.3m to 6.9m to “reflect (the) heritage character of the area”, a panel report said.

The 2968sq m Robe Haven Motel block. Picture: Elders Real Estate

Inside the now-closed Robe Haven Motel. Picture: Supplied

The setback from nearby Robe House, a state heritage place, was increased in response to heritage concerns.

Mr Dohnt said he was happy with the result, but the process of being forced to separately deal with both state and local heritage bodies was “just bulls**t”.

“We sat down, worked with state heritage and got it over the line,” he said. “It went out to public opinion, and then the local heritage (body), which is still two consultants in Adelaide, came back with all these other issues.

“The whole process took at least another three months, and I reckon we would’ve spent another $10,000. They just should have done it together.”

Other nearby heritage-listed sites include St Mary’s Catholic Church, the Old Police Stables, the Robe Customs and Maritime Museum, and Lake Butler.

Mr Dohnt said he hoped to start construction in early 2026 and finish within the next two years.

Originally published as Developer Phillip Dohnt to demolish ‘disgusting’ Robe Haven Motel to build six houses as buyer demand grows