Collapsed, closed: Tasmanian businesses that have shut or are no more in 2023
From construction companies, pubs, restaurants, surgeries and suppliers – we’ve compiled a big list of Tasmanian businesses who hit the rocks, collapsed, or are no more in 2023. See the 40+ names.
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From construction companies, pubs, restaurants, surgeries and suppliers – we’ve compiled a big list of Tasmanian businesses who hit the rocks, collapsed, or are no more in 2023.
Liquidations, administrations that made headlines:
Multi-Res Builders Pty Ltd
Multi-Res Builders Pty Ltd, owned and directed by businessman Colin Barratt, entered liquidation on May 14, 2023, and left more than 20 homes – including a $7.3m Homes Tasmania project in Glenorchy, unfinished.
The Tasmanian construction company, which left dozens of homes unfinished exploded in revenue by 350 per cent in the year before its demise – a level of growth its liquidator deemed unsustainable.
In a report to creditors, liquidator David Levi noted Multi-Res’ revenue had grown from $3.7m in the 2021 financial year, to $17.1m the next – an increase of 350 per cent.
The report listed 176 unsecured unrelated creditors including suppliers, contractors and the Australian Taxation Office as estimated to be owed more than $4.3m.
The company’s total liabilities sit at more than $6.219m – according to extracts from Multi-Res’ Xero records.
It is estimated Multi-Res owes more than $2.5m to related companies and creditors, which include companies owned by other members of the Barratt family – including $1.2m to All Carpentry (Tas) Pty Ltd – owned by Mr Barratt’s son, Tom.
All Brick Tasmania
A Tasmanian construction company owned by the son of embattled Multi-Res Builders’ director entered administration with debts exceeding $2m.
A report filed with ASIC alleged that All Brick & Block (Tas) Pty Ltd, the company behind All Brick Tasmania, made an asset sale transaction to a separate company, owned by Multi-Res Builders director Colin Barratt just weeks before its collapse.
All Brick Tasmania, which was headed by Matthew Barratt, entered external administration in April 2023.
The company’s liquidator, David Levi of Levi Consulting, said their debts had totalled about $2,072,617.48 – with $1.97m owed to the Australian Taxation Office and $76k to trade creditors.
The company was said to also owe money to other businesses and people related to the wider Barratt family including Matthew’s brother, Tom, who is owed $14k and their father, Colin Barratt – director of the now collapsed Multi-Res Builders Pty Ltd – who is owed almost $8k.
At the time, the Mercury reported that Barratt & Sons Pty Ltd, owned equally by Mr Barratt, Tom, and other brothers Luke, Sam and Ben, is owed $713.
Energy Street Pty Ltd
A northern multi-trade construction firm whose money woes were slowly mounting finally saw the light – but despite nabbing a plum contract, the collapse of one of their largest clients sent them off the deep end, they say.
Energy Street Pty Ltd, based in Prospect Vale, has been headed by Rodney Patterson and Wayne Mitchell since 2017.
The company entered external administration in late August, with David Mansfield and Travis Anderson appointed as joint administrators.
In their report to creditors, they noted the company may have been insolvent as early as June 30, 2021, and had trading losses in each financial year up until 2023, as well as negative working capital.
The company’s total estimated liabilities are said to sit at $2.19m.
The administrators said in their opinion that in addition to the loss of “key customer” Multi-Res, Energy Street’s financial rough waters were also due to the company incurring trading losses in each of the three years leading up to its administration.
Huon Valley Seafoods
A Huon Valley seafood processing company collapsed in July this year in the midst of a multimillion dollar debt.
The liquidator of Huon Valley Seafoods Pty Ltd said she has since formed the view that the company traded while insolvent for at least 12 months.
The company was founded 23 years ago by business partners Ambrose Coad and Stephen Oates.
But after a “falling out” between the pair and their mainland investors, Yuan-Sheng (Kim) Xie and Ling Pu – who had taken over the company in 2022 – the business entered liquidation in July this year.
A report filed to ASIC by liquidator Louisa Sijabat noted that the company’s debts were actually larger than the directors’ first estimated, and now sat at more than $3.9m instead of the initial $3.1m.
Golden Homes (Tas) Pty Ltd
A couple heading a northern Tasmanian construction company which left more than 10 clients without finished homes were paid more than $1m over two years by the firm while it was estimated to be insolvent, its administrators have claimed.
Devonport-based residential construction company Golden Homes (Tas) Pty Ltd entered voluntary administration on August 30 – after its establishment in 2020.
The company is headed by Emmett Davidson.
In a report to creditors, joint administrators Michael Carrafa and Richard John Cauchi stated the company’s total estimated liabilities currently sat at $3,627,647.
This included $3,288,097 owed to 71 unsecured creditors, according to company records.
Brunton Racing Pty Ltd
The liquidator examining the million-dollar plus collapse of Scott Brunton’s racing stables has alleged the director was giving himself loans from the company’s own pockets.
Brunton Racing Pty Ltd – headed by Mr Brunton – owned horseracing stables in the sates south at Seven Mile Beach.
It was wound up in insolvency by the Federal Court in August.
Its winding up came after action was brought by creditor, the ATO.
Mr Brunton has not been charged.
Liquidator Travis Anderson in his statutory report to creditors said the company’s estimated liabilities had amounted to $1,599,149.22 – a figure that is expected to rise.
Dunalley Hotel: Pub operator CLLJ Pty Ltd enters administration amid alleged debts of $700K-plus
An administrator was called in to save the Dunalley Hotel, owned by CLLJ Pty Ltd, in August this year.
Shelly-Maree Brooks estimated the company’s debts would exceed more than $700k.
It is believed that employee entitlements are in excess of $200k while unsecured creditor claims exceed $500k.
While the business was marketed for sale, the pub faces closure if a buyer is not found.
Speaking to the Mercury in September, Cara-Lee Cleaver, 42, the hotel’s licensee and company director of CLLJ, which is owned by her parents, said she was feeling “pretty down”.
She said had “no clue” what was in store next for her.
Business closures
McCann’s Music Centre in Hobart to close after 142 years
McCann’s Music Centre closed its doors after nearly 150 years of being Hobart’s best-known instrument dealers.
Geoff McCann, who was the third-generation owner of the shop, had spent his entire young life growing up in the store.
Back then, it had been run by his father, Bernard.
The now 74-year-old began working in the shop full-time after he left school in the mid ‘60s.
Mr McCann told the Mercury that it was time to close up shop so he could have a proper retirement, and because there was nobody else in the family able to keep the business going.
He decided that Christmas was the right time to close.
“Sentimentally, it was a hard decision to make, but I am very comfortable with it now,” Mr McCann said.
Davey Street Medical Centre announces February 2024 closure due to loss of doctors
A Hobart CBD GP clinic will be the latest to close after their search to replace departing doctors failed to reap rewards.
The patients of Davey Street Medical Centre will have to find alternative arrangements when the centre closes on February 29, 2024.
They were told by text that “due to severe doctor shortages” the centre’s management had made the “difficult decision” to close the practice.
Practice Manager Michele Sutherland said the practice would be down to one part-time doctor which would make the business unviable to continue.
Geronimo Aperitivo Bar and Restaurant closing after eight years
A successful restaurateur called time at his Launceston eatery and bar after deciding to spend more time with family after the birth of his second child.
The final service of Geronimo Aperitivo Bar and Restaurant, which opened in August 2015 on Launceston’s Charles St, was on September 17.
Owner and co-founder Jeremy Kode said Geronimo’s closure was the “end of an era”.
“After an incredible eight years of being part of the Launceston community, the time has come to close our doors at Geronimo,” Mr Kode said.
Hobart Cat Cafe closes its doors
The popular Hobart Cat Cafe, closed its doors late in 2023 after its long-time owners decided this year was the purr-fect time to retire.
Sarah and Adam Honeyman set up the Elizabeth St cafe almost eight years ago and reluctantly decided not to renew their lease at the end of November.
They plan to spend more time with their daughter.
When they opened the cafe, a cat cafe had just opened in Melbourne, and they were the first allowed to have cats and a full commercial kitchen and alcohol licence.
Maning Reef Cafe
The family behind a popular Sandy Bay seafood cafe has made the decision to walk away as concern over an uncertain future mounts.
Kate Caire, co-owner of Maning Reef Cafe in Sandy Bay, has run the cafe alongside her father, John Caire, for 13 years.
The cafe is a family affair, with stepmother Pitin and stepsister Dinda also working behind the counter.
And despite a bumper summer of sales, Ms Caire said it was time to walk away – citing the impending end of the cafe’s lease, an uncertain economic future, and the increasing rise in costs of running the business.
Mr Caire has had a long history of feeding Sandy Bay residents, having owned several other eateries in the Sandy Bay area since 1974.
Other published liquidations, winding ups
> Pipo Harvest Solutions Pty Ltd, ABN: 90636106940, notice date: December 6, 2023
> Invest Shine Pty Ltd Trading As Gm Noodle House, ABN: 37628097012, notice date: November 6, 2023
> Mdg Contracting Group Pty Limited (In Liquidation), ABN: 28110945143, notice date: November 23, 2023
> Excellence Painting Tas Pty Ltd, ABN: 60625879469, notice date: November 22, 2023
> South Aussie Hotel Pty Ltd, ABN: 88635801188, notice date: October 26, 2023
> Kc Tasmanian Development, ABN: 43652659106, notice date: October 11, 2023
> Jlm Electrical & Communications Pty. Ltd., ABN: 99607431792, notice date: October 12, 2023
> Starston Investments Pty Limited, ABN: 89009507108, notice date: October 25, 2023
> Raida Hospitality Group Pty Ltd, ABN: 91648045103, notice date: October 18, 2023
> Haymic Pty Ltd, ABN: 96131521036, notice date: October 27, 2023
>Prime Eight Pty Ltd, ABN: 27629644515, notice date: September 28, 2023
> Tps Signs (Tas) Pty Ltd, ABN: 47009583902, notice date: September 29, 2023
> Lca Hobart Cbd Pty Ltd, ABN: 30626302814, notice date: August 15, 2023
> Print Mail Logistics (Equipment) Pty Ltd (Solvent Winding Up), ABN: 99161671334, notice date: August 11, 2023
> Inside Out Commercial Pty Ltd, notice date: August 18, 2023
> Frome Holdings Pty. Limited (Solvent Winding Up), ABN: 53009501660, notice date: August 28, 2023
> Springvale Proprietary Limited (Solvent Winding Up), ABN: 68009481547, Notice Date: August 21, 2023
> A.J & B.J Smith Pty Ltd, ABN: 59009566125, notice date: July 5, 2023
> Milkbud Events Pty Ltd, ABN: 52634907618, notice date: July 12, 2023
> Matthew Morgan Pty Ltd, ABN: 77167191844, Notice Date: July 12
> Cb Holdings Tas Pty Ltd (Solvent Winding Up), ABN: 54083385906, notice date: June 30
> Energy Solutions Electrical Pty Ltd (Managing Controller Appointed) (In Liquidation) Trading As Formerly Trading As Energy Solutions Electrical And Level Electrical & Air Hobart, ABN: 49607245214, notice date: June 20, 2023
> Cyrelian Pty Ltd (In Liquidation), ABN: 20615605984, notice date: June 28, 2023
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