Final design plans for the refurbishment of a 113-year-old hotel have been unveiled.
Comiskey Group on Tuesday revealed the first look of an extensive internal renovation of the Imperial Hotel in Eumundi.
The entertainment company, which purchased the venue in October, has finalised design plans in collaboration with KP Architects and interior design studio CTRL Space.
Stage one of the revamp is already underway. During this stage, the front bar, gaming room and TAB will undergo a four-month transformation.
Comiskey Group director David Comiskey lauded the renovation plans.
“We’ve determined the direction for the design and styling of the Imperial Hotel’s new interior,” he said.
“We believe its going to breathe vitality and vibrance into the space, while honouring the hotel’s storied past.”
Once stage one is complete, stage two will start with a major refurbishment of the beer garden, bar, toilets, restaurant, kitchen area and kids’ games room.
The hotel, across from the renowned Eumundi Markets, was established in 1911 and has become a long-standing community landmark.
Comiskey Group director Rob Comiskey said it was important to recognise the past of the hotel in the design.
“From the very start, the brief remained the same; we wanted to celebrate the history of the pub,” he said.
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“The Imperial Hotel is over 100 years old.
“It has changed owners throughout the years, it burnt down in 1926 and has been reimagined numerous times.
“But one thing has remained the same: it’s been a local favourite watering hole.
“As the new custodians of this incredible property, we want to keep it that way.”
The Comiskey Group stated that it will pay homage to the hotel’s rich history through nostalgic design elements reminiscent of an old-school pub; with plans to memorialise the hotel’s colourful history, decorating walls with framed pictures of its past.
“We have historical photos of bullocks grazing outside the hotel and horses parked outside on dirt streets,” Rob said.
“The photos are really cool and we can’t wait to put them up for our visitors to see.
“It’s an iconic hotel and there was no way we wouldn’t have recognised its unique heritage.
“From tartan carpets to pressed metal ceilings, we are bringing back the old school, with a twist.”
The Comiskey Group stated that the hotel had a timeless exterior, so the renovation would only extend to the venue’s internal space.
The venue’s entryway will see a slight upgrade but maintain its recognisable facade.
“We have hand-selected materials and textiles which really hone in on the old-school; think antique mirrors and timber skirting,” Rob said.
“Even our newly painted walls will be distressed to ensure the hotel doesn’t look brand new and sparkly: we want it to have character in spades.
“We have been playing around with eclectic fabrics for our booths and curtains.
“We are even looking at a retro custom tile design which will decorate the floor along the perimeter of the bar.
“Combining eclectic fabrics with elements such as brass finishes will give it the classy, old-school pub appearance that we are aiming for.”
The Comiskey Group purchased the hotel and its on-site accommodation in October. The accommodation, previously known as HOLA, was rebranded as the Imperial Hotel Boutique Accommodation.
The accommodation, renovated a few years ago, will receive a new heated pool and magnesium spa as part of the group’s upgrades to the site.
The Comiskey Group has significantly increased its project profile on the Sunshine Coast in recent years.
In partnership with Josh Jones and Neville Allen, the Comiskey Group built and opened The Doonan near Noosa in 2023, just prior to purchasing the Imperial Hotel and boutique accommodation in Eumundi.
The Comiskey Group announced in 2022 its plan to build the largest hotel and entertainment venue on the Sunshine Coast in Australia’s largest master-planned community, Stockland Aura. The $45m development is expected to be complete by early 2026.
The group in 2021 purchased 150 hectares of land in Coochin Creek, 35 minutes south of Maroochydore.
With a history of running major events at their entertainment venues, Eatons Hill Hotel and Sandstone Point Hotel, the group aim to expand their entertainment offering and use the land as a large-scale outdoor events and music festivals site, called Coochin Fields.
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