Quaint country pubs and iconic opportunities get buyers clicking in August

From mountaintop pubs to an entire customs house, August proved a delightful deviation from the mean when it came to the most-viewed listings on realcommercial.com.au.

Lately, industrial and retail properties have dominated the rankings in terms of most-viewed and most-enquired, but last month’s top-10 was peppered with some iconic properties. Here’s a selection of the top-10.

Cosy Blue Mountains weekend escape

While 1 September means winter is officially over, the Spicers Sangoma Retreat at 70 Grandview Lane, Bowen Mountain would be perfect for a blanket, a good book and a red wine in front of the roaring fire. It was realcommercial.com.au’s most-viewed listing in August.

Offered by HTL Property Sydney, the Spicers Retreat sits on a sprawling 38,500 sqm of land – nearly four hectares – and features eight adults-only villas.

Boasting expansive views across the Nepean River Valley, the property is being offered by Salter Brothers, who acquired the Spicers portfolio in 2023.

Over the past 20 years, Spicers has built a reputation for boutique luxury, and was founded in 2002 by Jo Turner, wife of entrepreneur and CEO and founder of Flight Centre, Graham ‘Skroo’ Turner, and mother of Matt Turner, founder of 99 Bikes.

A true trophy asset in the heart of Townsville

When Townsville Customs House at 16 Wickham Street hit the market mid last month, it didn’t take long for property enthusiasts to catch on – it sits at realcommercial.com.au’s second-most viewed listing in August.

Constructed between 1899 and 1902, the property stands as one of North Queensland’s most iconic buildings, and presents a truly unique opportunity, offered by CBRE Brisbane.

You can’t miss this iconic asset as you head into the Strand. Picture: CBRE

The building looms large on the main strip of Townsville, the Strand – you can’t miss it – and has served many purposes in its 120-plus year life.

Aside from its eponymous job as a customs house storing property titles, the property served as a hospital during World War II, and famed US general Douglas MacArthur had an office there. It was constructed out of materials sourced from across the entire British Empire.

“More than simply a building, it is a landmark, a statement property and a truly irreplaceable piece of North Queensland history,” said Neville Smith, CBRE’s senior director.

A touch of royalty in the Riverina

The Royal Hotel at 45 Tumut Street, Adelong, is something of an institution in the region about an hour’s drive from Wagga Wagga.

Offered as a freehold going concern for $695,000 by McDonald Hospitality Brokers in Albury, the local pub was realcommercial.com.au’s sixth-most viewed property in August.

The Royal Hotel in Adelong, near Wagga Wagga, has hit the market. Picture: realcommercial.com.au

You can’t miss the pub when arriving into town, sitting at a T-intersection of the Snowy Mountains Highway that takes you to either Tumut or Wagga Wagga.

The hotel has undertaken a huge renovation, and publicans will hope to capture some of the economic windfall coming from Snowy Hydro 2.0.

The kingdom is yours with this mountaintop pub

Salter Brothers is offloading another Blue Mountains property, this time the iconic Hydro Majestic Hotel at 52-88 Great Western Highway, Medlow Bath. It was realcommercial.com.au’s tenth-most viewed property in August.

The Hydro Majestic, which sounds more like a Pokemon than a pub, opened in 1904 as Australia’s first hydropathic health retreat, and features 84 guest rooms, including nine luxury suites.

The Hydro Majestic Hotel in the Blue Mountains is for sale. Picture: realcommercial.com.au

Over its time it has welcomed esteemed guests such as Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and Australia’s first Prime Minister, Sir Edmund Barton, according to its selling agents at HTL Property.

“It is one of those rare properties that transcends traditional hotel investment; it is a genuine Australian institution,” said HTL Property Director, Nic Simarro.