February 5, 2013
Wondai’s iconic “bottom” pub, the Wondai Hotel, is undergoing a major refurbishment which will see it emerge at Easter rechristened as the “Wondai Hotel and Cellars”.
At the moment, it’s literally the “pub with no beer” as the new owners – Michael Beohm, his wife Jessica and her mother Eleanor Bellgrove – are working their way through the rooms, repainting walls and ceilings, lifting floors and replacing woodwork.
Michael said they’re aiming for a very traditional look but with all the features of a modern hotel.
“We’re going to bring it back to how it used to be,” Michael said.
He admits it’s a big project – the total cost could be up to $500,000 over five years – but he’s confident it will look good when it’s completed.
And so far everything is going to plan …
Downstairs, a new bar-room area is being created and a new kitchen and an a-la-carte restaurant are being installed.
Michael says he’s already lined up an award-winning chef to run the restaurant and he promises all the produce will be sourced from within 100km of Wondai.
A cellar door is planned for wine lovers (and tourists); this will feature bottles from Kingaroy winery Kingsley Grove as well as two of the family’s own labels, made from South Burnett grapes.
The cellar door is a natural fit for Michael. He is a sommelier by trade and has worked in major hotel chains as well as in small restaurants in the Yarra Valley. Most recently he worked for Sirromet at Mt Cotton, near Brisbane.
Michael hopes the restored hotel will become a community hub, complementing the South Burnett Regional Council’s proposed parkland development and “helping to build up this side of town”.
As well as tourists, he envisages local residents dropping in regularly. There’ll be coffee and cakes offered at morning tea time and children won’t be forgotten, with a play area being developed out back for the kids.
A landscaped garden area suitable for weddings and private functions is also planned.
Michael is documenting the progress of the makeover on the pub’s Facebook page
