Today, the Comiskey Group are excited to share the first look at the extensive internal renovation of The Imperial Hotel in Eumundi on the Sunshine Coast.
In October 2023, The Imperial Hotel and its on-site accommodation, previously named HOLA, were purchased by the Comiskey Group. Since, HOLA has been rebranded as The Imperial Hotel Boutique Accommodation.
The hotel and accommodation acquisition came just months after opening The Doonan, a popular new venue near Noosa. With plans to renovate The Imperial Hotel from the get-go, the Comiskey Group sought the creative assistance of expert third parties.
In collaboration with KP Architects and interior design studio, CTRL Space, the Comiskey Group have finalised design plans, and stage one of the renovation is already underway.
During this initial stage, the front bar, gaming room, and TAB will undergo a transformation, with an estimated duration of four months from start to finish.
Director David Comiskey has enjoyed the process of working with architects.
“Together, we’ve determined the direction for the design and styling of The Imperial Hotel’s new interior. We believe its going to breathe vitality and vibrance into the space, while honouring the hotel’s storied past” says David.
Once complete, stage two will commence with a major refurbishment of the beer garden, bar, toilets, restaurant, kitchen area and kids’ games room. The Comiskey Group state that the new kids’ room with be “one of the largest on the Sunshine Coast” and have some unexpected features, guaranteed to excite.
The Imperial Hotel will be a place locals and visitors of all ages can enjoy. True to the group’s usual approach, providing a family-oriented environment remains a key priority in both their strategic planning and daily operations.
The Imperial Hotel is a well-known fixture of the Sunshine Coast, across from the iconic Eumundi Markets. The hotel was first established in 1911 and has become a long-standing and cherished community landmark.
“From the very start, the brief remained the same; we wanted to celebrate the history of the pub. 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” says Director, Rob Comiskey.
The Comiskey Group 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. 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” says Rob Comiskey.
The hotel’s traditional Queenslander façade is well-recognised and has only varied slightly over the years. Given the hotel’s timeless exterior, the Comiskey Group’s renovation only extends to the venue’s internal space. The venue’s entryway will see a slight upgrade but maintain its recognisable façade.
“We have hand-selected materials and textiles which really hone in on the old-school; think antique mirrors and timber skirting. 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” says Rob Comiskey.
At the back of the new property at Eumundi sits The Imperial Hotel Boutique Accommodation, formerly known as HOLA. The accommodation was recently renovated just a couple of years prior to the acquisition and will not be refurbished. Instead, the accommodation has already received a new heated pool and magnesium spa, as part of the group’s upgrades to the site.
The Comiskey Group have significantly increased their 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.
In 2022, the Comiskey Group announced their 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.
In 2021 the group purchased 150-hectares of land in Coochin Creek, just 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.
The Comiskey Group is excited about introducing additional top-tier hospitality and entertainment options to the Sunshine Coast, affirming that they have much more in store for the future.
