Publican John Anderson’s family add to publican’s property portfolio with South Toowoomba used car dealership buy

Nearly three years after his death, the family of a well-known Toowoomba publican has added to his extensive property portfolio and revealed the future of two of his most prized assets.

The family of late Toowoomba identity John Anderson has continued to grow the popular publican’s prolific property portfolio, after the purchase of CBD-fringe site featuring a used car dealership.

Mr Anderson’s son Lachlan revealed he had bought the McWilliams Wholesale Autos site on Ruthven Street in South Toowoomba for $550,000 through Colliers.

Mr Anderson, who died in 2019, was best known as the owner of Hotel Norville, the old Delacy’s Hotel and the Settlers Inn, which is next door to the new purchase.

All three venues are now owned by either one or both of Mr Anderson’s sons Lachlan and Robert, along with more than a dozen other residential and commercial properties across Toowoomba.

The site housing the McWilliams Wholesale Autos dealership on Ruthven Street in South Toowoomba, next door to the old Settlers Inn, has sold to Lachlan Anderson for $550,000 through Colliers Toowoomba.

Selling agent Mike Turley said the 800 sqm site had been an car retailer for many years.

“There’s not much aroundin that small format at that price point, so this was a rare commodity in that respect,” he said.

“(McWilliams) have been a longstanding tenant at that site.”

But Lachlan Anderson did not rule out redeveloping the site in the future, considering its proximity to the Settler’s Inn.

“There will be plans in the future, but it was just to pick it up, because it was quite a good investment for future development,” he said.

“There will be nothing straight away, I knew it was on the market, so it’s always good to acquire quality assets.

“I’m happy to have (the tenant) stay on, we’re just basically building our property portfolio.”

Norville Hotel owner John Anderson, who passed away in 2019. Photo Kevin Farmer / The Chronicle

Mr Anderson also gave clues into the futures of the Settlers Inn and Hotel Norville, which have both sat vacant for varying lengths of time.

He said the Hotel Norville was currently for lease, with several businesses expressing a desire to move into the iconic Russell Street venue.

“We’ve had it for lease and we do have quite a bit of interest, we are in discussions but until the contract is signed, it’s still up in the air,” Mr Anderson said.

“That’s just the lease, we are not selling any of them.”

Mr Anderson said the Settlers Inn required renovations before it could be made available for lease.

“It will be up for lease in due course — we’re just trying to get some builders at the moment, but there are plans set in place for it,” he said.

“As soon as we can get some builders who are happy to take it on (we’ll move ahead).”

The old Delacy’s Hotel on Ruthven Street in North Toowoomba has enjoyed the most success of the three, having been taken over by boutique city butchery the Paddock.

The butchery, which is owned by the Ellison family, have since transformed the pub into a shop, restaurant and drive-through cafe.