Work to start soon on huge renovation of Toowoomba pub

MAJOR Darling Downs feedlot operator Mort and Co will start work soon on converting the Mort Estate Hotel into its new office space.

Mort Estate Hotel in Toowoomba. Wednesday, 25th Apr, 2018. Picture: Nev Madsen

MAJOR Darling Downs feedlot operator Mort and Co will start work soon on converting the Mort Estate Hotel into its new office space.

The company this week settled on the property in Mort St, Toowoomba, for just less than $1.8 million, according to agent Drew Camm.

The development comes a month after FKG Group and Mort and Co was approved to turn the twice-failed drinking venue into a contemporary office space.

"They're going to do massive renovations to make it A-class offices. They're going to renovate it in its traditional style, make use of the old windows," Mr Camm said.

"I think it will be three to five months of renovations.

"The portion of the restaurant that's been added on has been demolished and they're going to have enough car parks because they wanted a heap of them."

WORK TO START: Feedlotting company Mort and Co will start work soon on the old Mort Estate Hotel, after it was settled for $1.8 million by DC Commercial's Drew Camm (pictured). Picture: DC Commercial

The venue is within the Toowoomba Regional Council's Railway Parklands priority development area, which Mr Camm said made it easier to fast-track plans through the TRC.

"It's probably a good example of the rail yard precinct working for the positive of Toowoomba," he said.

"We had an old disused building that was used as a pub but they're now turning it into offices.

"The zoning allowed for a better conversion to office space."

Mort and Co managing director Charlie Mort said he had been searching for a new home for the past two years, with the current location on Herries St now too small for account for growth.

"Car parking and areas of office space were what I was looking for," he said.

"We're taking it back to its most original design - we hope to be in before Christmas.

"It's a major renovation, there will be a couple of million dollars (spent)."

The Mort Estate Hotel, which used to be called the Bellevue Hotel, closed in late 2016.

Mr Mort said his family had connections to the property.

Originally published as Work to start soon on huge renovation of Toowoomba pub