Plans for Wiluna’s last hotel
The shire of Wiluna, a spot lying 950 kilometres north east of Perth, might soon be without a pub.
The council plans to turn the Club Hotel, which opened in 1897 and was rebuilt in 1993, as its new administration centre.
The future of the hotel was uncertain after the owners had placed the business into administration six months ago.
Shire acting chief executive Colin Bastow admitted there was an issue about the town losing its only pub.
On the plus side, however, he pointed to benefits to Wiluna becoming dry.
For a start, it would tackle anti-social behaviour, one of the key issues across towns in the northern Goldfields.
“Effectively, over-the-counter sales would be limited,” Mr Bastow told the West Australian.
“Certainly from a council point of view, we’re not interested in being in that space. There is in our draft strategic plan something about having a tavern in town, but that’s probably longer term.
“We would be a dry town, but there are reports there would be some benefits to that.”
In any case, he said a number of people living in Wiluna were already purchasing alcohol online through Perth-based suppliers.
And besides, there was the opportunity for a local store to get a license to sell takeaway alcohol.
Early estimates show it would cost the council $13 million to convert the pub into an administration centre and reopen its run-down caravan park.
According to estimates presented to the council by Mr Bastow, hotel renovations and upgrades would cost $6 million and the council would have to pay $5m for the adjacent caravan park and $2m for retail development.
He said repairing the caravan park would be a boost for the town.
“The caravan park hasn’t been operated for a while, and the town definitely needs a caravan park as well, so that’s an exciting part of the project,” he said.
by Leon Gettler, March 15th 2017
