10 minute read
The Bridgeport Hotel
from Hotel SA July 2021
by Boylen
TRUE GRIT TRANSFORMS BRIDGEPORT INTO A TRUE MASTERPIECE
After 25 years of ownership and 11 years of planning and development, Graham Hobbs and Ian Tregoning have realised their vision with the opening of the stunning 100-room Bridgeport Hotel.
The Bridgeport Hotel early 1900’s.
The Bridgeport Hotel before demolition began.
The six-storey, $45 million investment commands striking views over the River Murray and Murray Bridge township.
Mary-Lou Corcoran.
Significantly, local employment has increased from 25 jobs to 148, making it a major contributor to the Murraylands economy.
“If this redevelopment of the hotel isn’t a game changer, I don’t know what is,” said Ian just prior to opening.
General manager Mary-Lou Corcoran echoed that sentiment, saying the project was “driven by passion”.
“It’s a $45 million dollar build with no Federal or State funding.
“It was all private investment into a region where they had confidence that change was going to occur.”
Like many grand hotel success stories, it started with less lofty ambitions and grew from there. Initially, Graham and Ian had only planned to redevelop the existing hotel, but then decided to add 100 rooms!
WHAT TO EXPECT
As you approach Murray Bridge by car, the hotel makes a bold statement on the landscape – especially for travellers driving over the bridge from the Old Princes Highway.
Key features of the development include:
• 100 rooms
• Five bars, including the CODS sports bar
• Rivergum restaurant that leads to an alfresco terrace
• Heated infinity pool, bar and gym with uninterrupted views overlooking the river, which is also available for events
• The Lounge
• Four conference rooms (and two outdoor spaces that can be incorporated for events and weddings)
• Underground and open-air car parking
• Three lane drive-thru bottle shop
• Gaming room
A LANDMARK ACHIEVEMENT
The hotel opens at 7am each day and serves breakfast, lunch and dinner.
The Rivergum Restaurant has expansive river views and a combination of open and booth seating that blends leather and timber, with floor to ceiling windows and natural timber
“It is beautiful and our menu features local produce and local suppliers,” said Mary-Lou.
The Rivergum menu is modern Australian, a fusion of many cultures. Some of the highlights include:
• Falafel skewers
• Duck spring rolls
• Antipasto
• Haloumi burger
• Beetroot risotto
• Cajun chicken breast
• Herbivore pizza
• Shredded Thai salad
• Favourites such as steak and Atlantic salmon
The food and wine menus incorporate a pelican symbol to signify produce and wines from the Murraylands region. Bottled wine ranges from $32 to $85, and cocktails are priced from $14 to $16.
Vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options are available and pizzas can be made with a gluten-free base.
The indoor-outdoor Bridge Bar is open and airy, with modern timber furniture and soft-blue-neon island bar, creating a cosy atmosphere.
The Lounge is a large relaxed indoor area. It offers High Tea, coffee, cocktails, South Australian wines etc. and is open from 7am to 9pm, with acoustic music from 5pm.
The Terrace sits outside The Rivergum Restaurant and offers alfresco bar and dining, as well as HD big screens for sport and entertainment. It has spectacular views over the Murray River and Wharf Parklands.
A gym, pool and pool bar are located on the first floor, also with commanding views of the Murray River.
CODS Sports Bar has a regatta feel to it, with three vintage rowing skulls hanging from the ceiling. It is sunlit, has predominantly high bar tables and a wide array of TV screens.
There are 16 different types of beer across 44 taps, two TAB terminals and Keno facilities. Bar snacks include everything from toasties to Yum Cha, while the menu is traditional pub fare including bangers and mash, steak and schnitzels.
ROOMS
All 100 rooms have king beds, a mini bar and free WiFi, the majority have a balcony and all have impressive views looking over palm trees to the mighty Murray River, or over the town. Each floor also has viewing windows “so no one misses out”.
As the photos in this story show, the “hero size” art in the rooms reflects the region’s landscapes. Rooms are available in four styles:
• Riverside Balcony Suite
• City Balcony Suite
• Riverside Suite
• City Suite
CONFERENCES AND EVENTS
The Bridgeport is expected to become a magnet for conferences, weddings and other special events. There is a recognition that guests who attend conferences at a venue will later return with their families.
The hotel has the capacity to host a wide variety of functions, ranging from a handful of people in a meeting room up to 500 people in a cocktail setting. It has the added attraction of 100 rooms on site to accommodate guests.
SOFT LAUNCH & ROWING CONNECTION
On June 8, the first day of trade, over 3,500 people passed through the doors of the Bridgeport Hotel. According to Mary-Lou, most were locals who were keen to take a look at their town’s new attraction.
“They’re so proud of this being in the region and just know what impact it’s going to have for the future,” she said.
Prior to that, the venue had a soft launch, including a free breakfast for local business owners and managers, as well as playing host to a Rowing Australia event.
The rowing connection is significant for several reasons. During development, the hotel set up an Employment Centre at the Regional Rowing Centre at Sturt Reserve. Locals were encouraged to “pop in and see us with your resume”.
The hotel’s CODS sports bar pays homage to a local rowing team - comprising local railway workers, musicians, a coffin-maker and war veterans – that defied the odds in their quest for success. As the hotel website explains:
“The CODS were a knockout crew... They raced with a small, dried Murray Cod fastened to the bow of their boat. Against all the odds – lack of money, class prejudice, and World War One – they made it all the way to the Paris Olympics of 1924.”
You can view a short video click here.
CODs Bar
Not Just Jobs – An Amazing Social Achievement
Mary-Lou came on board as general manager in December 2020 with the goal of “getting connectivity back to community”.
“I love empowering people and giving people opportunity and pathways,” she said.
“Probably my most important role was building our new Bridgeport team, our Bridgeport family, and understanding that our main focus was also a return to the local region.
“That means local employment, so instead of advertising and having people come from all around Australia, I went to the people.”
She went to the local job providers and held a jobs forum. 176 long-term unemployed people attended.
After the forum, she held a three-day course focussed on empowerment and “taking responsibility for opportunity.”
She then went to Murray Bridge High School and met with the students taking Certificate II or III in hospitality or cookery and offered them jobs as juniors.
The next jobs forum was held at the Big W Distribution Centre at Monarto. The centre was closing, and 180 long-term employees would be without work.
“It was just about getting out and meeting the people and embracing attitude. Our leadership is not about taking charge, it’s about taking care of people,” said Mary-Lou.
Her approach has worked well thus far. Out of the Bridgeport Hotel’s 148 employees, 95% are local (surpassing the group’s goal of 90%), and 52 were previously long term unemployed.
“We put them through a seven-week program with TAFE SA and then two weeks on site,” said Mary-Lou.
“Skill can be trained, and it’s great to see so many of the locals are participating in our employment program.”
Mary-Lou came to the Bridgeport after three years as general manager of the Aurora Ozone Hotel on Kangaroo Island. If her name sounds familiar, it may be because she is a former mayor of Victor Harbor.
The Bridgeport’s approach to employment is a good news story that has attracted widespread publicity and shows the contribution that hotels make to the local communities.
The Advertiser reported: “The State Government has pitched in $193,764 towards a project supporting 56 trainees at the hotel, including 10 Aboriginal staff, to complete a Certificate III in Hospitality.
“Innovation and Skills Minister David Pisoni said Aboriginal participants would receive mentoring from Elders from Ngopamuldi Aboriginal Corporation during their work placement and probationary period.”
THE DEVELOPMENT BACK STORY
It took six years of patience, over $500,000 and plan after modified plan before the State Commissioner Assessment Panel (SCAP) approved the development application from EDP Hotels, formerly the Eureka Hotel Group.
The original hotel opened January 1885 and was a key building in town used for everything from rowing club meetings to Catholic masses. Fifteen years later it was enlarged and has undergone numerous changes since that date.
Demolition commenced in 2019 and construction started. In true country spirit, the local community benefited; for example, a local soccer club were gifted the dining room tables and chairs.
CATALYST DEVELOPMENT
Council recognised the new Bridgeport as a catalyst development. It worked with the owners on a “renewal plan” for the area, including construction of a new footpath linking the Old Bridge and Roundhouse to the redeveloped Bridgeport Hotel and extensive landscaping.
In an inspired marketing move, the hotel includes an Explore section on its website, outlining local attractions for people not familiar with the area.
It’s an exciting time for Murray Bridge and the region. This includes the new $35-million racetrack which opened in 2019, The Bend motorsport complex at Tailem Bend and a $50 million, 350-home development on the site of the former Murray Bridge Racing Club. Other projects include a new golf course, $350m solar farm and Thomas Foods’ $300m abattoir.
One of the attractions mentioned on the Bridgeport website is Monarto Safari Park, which has had $40 million spent on it in recent times.
The area has changed a lot since a young Ian Tregoning made the trip from Adelaide to water ski on the Murray River - and now the Bridgeport Hotel is a shining iconic star in the future of the Murraylands, just one hour by freeway from Adelaide.
