The Garage opens in first phase of massive Twin City Hotel project

Townsville’s burger lovers are making a beeline for The Garage, the first phase in what could be Australia’s largest pub. Get the latest on the project.

A contender for Australia’s biggest pub, the Twin City Hotel has taken a step closer to reality after activating its first phase, a pop-up burger shop called The Garage.

Situated at 12 Hervey Range Rd, The Garage began welcoming burger-lovers in their droves a fortnight ago after building hype through a social media campaign.

Born in Tully, Steven Shoobridge is managing director of Star Hotels Group, Queensland’s largest independently owned pub and liquor group.

He was eager to update the community about the ambitious project transforming the former-Sunland Plaza site, which was worth more than $50m and would employ 250 staff.

The Garage was providing a training ground for staff in the lead up to a phased opening of Twin City Hotel, at the 8000sqm site over the next six to nine months.

The Garage. Picture: Evan Morgan

“The Garage is a pop-up bar and restaurant which has activated our liquor licence at Twin City Hotel, which is soon to be the biggest pub, we believe, on the east coast of Australia,” Mr Shoobridge said.

“(It’s) a very simplistic offer. It’s burgers, snacks and a lot of boutique beers.”

Holly Brown at The Garage. Picture: Evan Morgan

The Garage’s menu. Picture: Evan Morgan

He was happy to see locals getting behind the new concept.

“Once we finish the kitchens internally at Twin City, The Garage will turn into a private event space for people to rent,” he said.

The completed hotel will feature multiple bars, coffee shop, lounge bar, gaming room, three kitchens, and 1200sqm large-format function and event space.

Star Hotels Group managing director Steven Shoobridge.

Aerial view of the future Twin City Hotel footprint.

It will also boast the region’s first large-format Star Liquor warehouse with “probably the biggest cold room that’s ever been installed in a liquor outlet in North Queensland”.

A recruitment campaign will be rolled out as each phase of the hotel comes on line, with a range of hospitality positions to be advertised from entry level, through to supervisors and managers.

Exterior view of the new Twin City Hotel. Picture: Leighton Smith.

Exterior view of the new Twin City Hotel. Picture: Leighton Smith.

After dividing his time between Brisbane and Townsville, Mr Shoobridge said he was “returning home” to North Queensland, where the group had been investing heavily over the past five years.

“As a fellow North Queenslander, I promise the wait will be worth it,” he said.

“I’m very happy to be coming back and investing in places where the national (companies) and others don’t invest greatly for the people of North Queensland.

“We’ve already renovated hotels like The Avenues, it’s done, West End (Hotel’s) done. We’ve got the Shamrock (renamed the Pub on Palmer) under construction, and obviously Twin City Hotel and the Centenary (Hotel) is currently starting renovations.”

Star Hotels Group also has money flowing into projects at Innisfail, Ayr, Charters Towers, Bowen, and Tully.

For more information, visit www.facebook.com/twincityhotel

Originally published as The Garage opens in first phase of massive Twin City Hotel project