Headlands Austinmer Beach has changed hands for the first time in 13 years. Photo: HTL Property.
Headlands Austinmer Beach hotel has been sold, reportedly for more than $40 million.
It’s been bought by JDA Collective, one of Sydney’s leading hospitality groups run by siblings John, Dean and Alexandra Feros.
The group has now either bought or sold six hotels in the past 18 months.
The off-market sale of the “NSW South Coast oceanfront jewel” was managed by HTL property directors Dan Dragicevich and Andrew Jolliffe.
“The term trophy property is somewhat overused in hospitality real estate marketing, but the Headlands Hotel richly deserves that descriptive elevation,” Dan said.
“In reality, there exists only a handful of venues nationally illustrating this geographical scope and scale and that can offer 270-degree vistas of two beaches to the north and south; and then the vast opulence of the Pacific Ocean to the east.
“The irreplaceable real estate underpins its value proposition, whilst also ensuring the business warrants perennial drawcard status for patronage and as such an inimitable advantage over competition.”
The Headlands Hotel started as a guesthouse with 30 rooms. From the collections of Wollongong City Libraries and the Illawarra Historical Society – P19164.
The hotel in the early 2000s. From the collections of Wollongong City Libraries and the Illawarra Historical Society – P20067.
According to the Headlands website, the hotel began as a guesthouse built in 1926 by Joe Goss for Syms and Company. It consisted of 30 double bedrooms, landscaped grounds, 12 garages and staff rooms.
In 1954, sheep breeder Mr H M Rain bought the property and converted the guesthouse into a modern hotel with a new accommodation section and bars.
Brian Marriott and John Moore took over the hotel in 1972 and tore down part of the old building to make way for a new steak and wine bistro.
After almost 40 years the hotel shut down due to safety concerns over the dilapidated state of the building in 2011.
JDA purchased the hotel from the Stevens Group, which bought the building in 2013.
The building was demolished and the Stevens Group designed and constructed the new hotel, opening the doors in December 2016.
Since then the hotel has won numerous awards from the NSW branch of the Australian Hotels Association, the industry’s peak body, including in the best pub-style accommodation and best outdoor experience categories.
It has several dining areas, a first-floor events and conference space, three outdoor areas to take advantage of the coastal views and more than 60 serviced apartments.
Region has contacted JDA Collective for comment.
