The Sphinx lodges multimillion dollar plan including minigolf
An iconic pub in the city’s north could be set to undergo a massive facelift which would include the installation of a themed minigolf course.
Geelong
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An iconic pub in Geelong’s north is planning a multimillion-dollar development that would see the installation of a themed minigolf course.
Plans worth more than $3m that would see the Sphinx Hotel in North Geelong transformed have been submitted to the City of Greater Geelong.
These include alterations and additions to existing accommodation buildings, construction of a new hotel accommodation building, a new pool and the reduction and alteration of existing carparking.
The plans also include the building of an 18-hole minigolf course, which, like the Sphinx Hotel itself, would be Egyptian themed.
The course will feature three separate styles of holes, six pure skill-based holes with fixed obstacles, six adventure holes with ramps and other obstacles, and six holes with special effects, including a mummy rising from a tomb.
The total of these works is expected to amount to $3.2m.
Owner George Ramia said the plans had been in the pipeline for two and a half years.
“We scaled them back a bit,” he said.
“It originally was going to include an outdoor food court with food trucks, but it might’ve had issues with the noise.
“We’re excited it’s finally in the public consultation stage.”
Mr Raima said the inspiration for the minigolf course came from Barry Cummings, the man who built the sphinx structure at the pub, who had seen courses popping up at similar venues around the world.
“It’s like a bit of a craze, I think it will be good for business,” Mr Raima said.
“Anything that can entertain the kids.”
Since the installation of a kitsch 14m-hight Sphinx on the roof in the 1990s, the pub has become a Geelong landmark.
The Ramia family have owned the venue for more than 50-years.
The plans will be open for public comment until January 3 next year.
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Originally published as The Sphinx lodges multimillion dollar plan including minigolf
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