The Yarck Hotel, which is 156km from Melbourne’s CBD in regional Victoria, has sold.
A regional Victorian hotel which former Western Bulldogs player Paul Dimattina and chef Geoff Lindsay bought during the Covid lockdowns has sold to a new owner.
Commercial real estate firm HTL Property yesterday announced the Yarck Hotel, on the Maroondah Highway in the state’s north east, has changed hands for an undisclosed price.
Dimattina and Mr Lindsay purchased the hotel during the pandemic and embarked on a major revamp in 2022.
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This included doubling the beer garden’s size and adding two private dining rooms.
At the time, the pair were also running Lamaro’s Hotel in South Melbourne.
Although Mr Lindsay has since relocated to Bali, Dimattina remains Lamaro’s publican – and that’s not his only major hospitality venture.
In June, it was revealed that Dimattina has signed a 12-year lease for two tenancies that will operate as a cafe and deli within developer Fortis’ $131m The Gild development in St Kilda.
Paul Dimattina is the publican at Lamaro’s Hotel in South Melbourne.
Then-Yarck Hotel owner and chef Geoff Lindsay, with venue manager Paul Bryant in 2022. Picture: Zoe Phillips.
The ex-Bulldogs utility and midfielder is taking on the Fitzroy St venture along with his son Kai, brother Andrew and cousins Paul, Liam, Chris and Adam.
Andrew is a former Collingwood player, while Kai plays in the VFL with Port Melbourne.
The cafe and deli are slated to open in 2028 when The Gild development is due for completion.
During his own football career, Dimattina played 131 games with the Bulldogs from 1995 until 2003, and later joined the Southport Sharks in Queensland.
Paul Dimattina being chaired off after his 100th game in 2002.
The Yarck Hotel transaction included a new lessee and long-term lease arrangement encompassing its public bar and restaurant, beer garden and the adjoining Meat and Produce Store.
HTL property director Scott Callow said the pub was patronised by people travelling to
Seymour, Yea, Alexandra, Lake Eildon and further north to the snowfields, in addition to touring groups, car clubs and motorcyclists.
“Regional hotels within easy reach of Melbourne continue to attract strong interest from both investors and operators alike,” Mr Callow said.
“Having a strong local community and year-round passing trade, further underpins strong investor demand.”
Paul Dimattina outside Lamaro’s Hotel with restaurant manager Sara Montano and venue manager Adam Pittitto, in 2024. Picture: Aaron Francis.
HTL Property’s Daniel Ryan said metropolitan hotels continued to trade at tight yields, prompting investors seeking stronger returns to turn to regional markets.
Earlier this year, the agency oversaw the marketing campaign for Mansfield’s Delatite Hotel which was sold as a freehold going concern – meaning the buyers purchased both the underlying commercial real estate and the business itself.
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