Commodore Hotel bought by emerging pub baron for $29m

At Barangaroo, TPG will occupy four levels and more than 9,000 square metres of office space in Tower Two, pictured above..

TPG Telecom group executive, people experience Vanessa Hicks said: “This exciting move positions TPG Telecom and our people at the heart of Sydney — a place where creativity meets community, and where our teams will flourish. With easy access to fantastic amenities, high-quality and modern workspaces, we are creating the perfect environment for our people to come together to be at their best, be closer to our customers, and drive innovation.”

The new Barangaroo office delivers larger floor plates across less floors, which will also provide greater opportunity for cross-functional interactions and collaboration.

A key feature of the new premises will be its new client & concierge floor which will host executive meetings, client showcases and events for larger team functions. Tower Two also aligns with TPG Telecom’s sustainability initiatives with its carbon neutral certification and achieves a significant reduction in TPG Telecom’s Sydney office footprint.

By Hannah Wilcox

The Commodore Hotel in McMahons Point was bought for $29 million by hotelier and developer Glenn Piper, who will receive the keys to the establishment in August. He bought the pub from the Good Beer Company .

Piper plans to spend the coming months learning more about the pub’s history and the community around it, assuring “any refurbishment plans respect the rich culture that it has developed over the decades.

“Standing proudly on the corner of Blues Point Road, the Commodore Hotel is without a doubt one of North Sydney’s greatest pubs - and one with an incredibly rich and colourful history. I am honoured to continue the Commodore’s long legacy and excited to have the opportunity to elevate it into something really special that reflects the community today,” he said.

Commenting on the sale, JLL Hotels Executive Vice President Ben McDonald said “Capital continues to seek exposure to ‘alterative assets’ that display strong IRR characteristics and have the ability to generate strong cash flow through trading operations. With genuine value-add potential via the approved DA, in addition to the compelling investment drivers, The Commodore was keenly pursued by those selected to participate in the sale process.”

JLL Senior Vice President Kate MacDonald also added “The significant brand equity of The Commodore in the local hospitality scene was a major drawcard for the purchaser who will certainly build on the pub’s strong reputation and business. We look forward to seeing the Commodore evolve over time under Mr Piper’s watchful eye.”

Located at 206 Blues Point Road, the Commodore’s history dates all the way back to 1854.

One of the very first settlers in the North Shore, Billy Blue, was a freed African-American slave who was transported to Sydney from England after stealing a loaf of sugar.

He made a living by rowing people across the harbour from his home on the shore, which evolved into a punt service for horses and carriages and, eventually, a larger service which could carry cars.

Blues Point and the namesake road is named after Billy Blue according to archived materials from The Town and Country Journal, originally published in 1901.

Blue was known by locals as ‘The Old Commodore’, sporting a bright blue naval jacket from previous ser- vice experience in the Royal Navy.

His son, John Blue, was granted a “new licence” for a two-storey sandstone inn on March 7, 1854 and named his new pub after his father’s nickname.

John Blue ran the Old Commodore Hotel up until his death on August 21, 1891.

The pub was demolished in 1901, and was replaced by a two-storey Victorian style hotel which traded until the 1930s with rumours the Old Commodore was once the drinking spot of choice for writer Henry Lawson.

It was then demolished in the 1970s and rebuilt with a “tavern licence” which remains trading till this day with several redevelopments over the past 50 years.

Piper can now add this longstanding historic establishment to his quickly growing portfolio; alongside the Harbord Hotel on the northern beaches, Newcastle’s Merewether Beach Hotel and a leasehold of Hook Island in the Whitsundays with plans to open an eco-lodge.