Sold for $45M: Hunts Hotel becomes latest greenfield pub acquisition

The Hunts Hotel in Sydney’s west has been snapped up by pub baron Arthur Laundy.

The pub was purchased for around $45 million as a vacant possession and becomes another asset in the Laundy family’s vast portfolio.

Hunts Hotel is at 2415 Camden Valley Road opposite the Crossroads Hotel at Casula. It sits on 21,420 square metres and features conference facilities, 140 accommodation rooms, a ballroom, tennis courts, restaurants and gaming room.

The venue becomes part of a trend in greenfield acquisitions, with Laundy to redevelop the hotel site in a similar fashion to his redevelopment of Marsden Brewhouse at Marsden Park, which he also purchased for $45 million.

The Marsden features conference rooms and a brewery.

Laundy, as part of a consortium, is also redeveloping the Log Cabin Hotel, in Penrith.

Greenfields sites are all the rage, offering solid income potential.

The Hunts Hotel sale was advised by JLL.

JLL hotels & hospitality senior vice president, Ben McDonald, noted the investment theme – developing greenfield pubs in growth locations – was growing.

“The rewards are not only for publicans brave enough to undertake such projects but for the local communities that stand to benefit from the increased amenity these new pubs seek to offer,” McDonald said.

“The considerable investment made by some of the country’s most respected publicans and hotel groups is truly admirable and highlights the genuine desire by many to add to the economic landscape and deliver a platform for greater social interaction in areas they reside in.”

Picking up on the theme are Sam Arnaout’s Iris Capital, Momento Hospitality, Balmoral Hospitality and De’ Angelis Hotel Investments, among others.

McDonald said the trend will continue well into the future.

“JLL is fortunate to hold a market leading position when it comes to greenfield and brownfield pub projects with some recent examples including those in Casula, Jordan Springs and Calderwood in NSW.”

During the pandemic, pub sector investment topped $2 million.

Irit Jackson - 3rd October 2022