'It's heartbreaking to sell': Restored country hotel for sale before the doors open
After working as a paramedic for 15 years, Neil Griffiths wanted to be surrounded by happiness.
He’d often visited Gundagai, as an escape from work around the Southern Highlands. “I loved the people, they were genuine and happy,” Griffiths said. “It was like a bit of recovery for me.”
When the rundown hotel in town went up for sale in 2005, he jumped at the opportunity to inspect it. “It was closed up, a bit dilapidated and needed work, but I thought ‘what a beautiful building’,” he recalled.
His idea of semi-retirement was to renovate and run a small country restaurant and inn, the Old Bridge Inn. Business was thriving but after a decade or so, Griffiths and his partner decided to invest in a complete restoration and refurbishment of the historic building dating back to the 1860s.
“I felt the town and the area needed something other than just pubs and a club,” he said. His vision was to create a venue that could accommodate events, regional weddings, conferences, family reunions and the like.
During the exhaustive two-year restoration process that followed, Neil became unwell. He was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis, a chronic disease where the body’s immune system attacks its own tissue. He later had a heart attack while taking a walk in Gundagai.
Over a two year period, he spent 20 months in hospital. During that time, he graciously credits the kind people of Gundagai for maintaining and looking after the property.
“I fought through all of that and I wanted to see this beautiful dream come true,” he said.
When the inn was finally ready to open in early 2020, the pandemic hit and heavy restrictions on gatherings were introduced. His staff eventually had to look for other work and, with his health only further deteriorating, the doors to the completed restored Old Bridge Inn are still yet to open.
Still frequently in and out of hospital, Griffiths said it was “heartbreaking” to have to sell.
“I have chronic pain. Sometimes I can’t walk. Physically, I can’t do much more.”
The fully-furnished property – comprising a bar, restaurant and accommodation – is listed for sale with a $1.8 million price tag.
Although his grand plans never came to fruition, Griffiths now dreams of visiting the inn as a patron … and hearing the chinking of glasses and laughter from his nearby cottage.
“I would love nothing more than for someone to do it,” he said. “All the equipment, furnishings, tables and chairs. It’s all ready to go. Walk in, walk out.”
“I believe whoever takes it on will be nothing but successful. I know people in the area want something like this in their town.”
His partner, Joanne Rayner, helped to design and style the B&B accommodation upstairs, with antiques and silk artwork keeping in tune with the property’s heritage.
The downstairs bar and coffee lounge are more modern, while the large restaurant overlooks the outdoor garden and dining area.
Incredibly, the property comes with a heritage 1960s drive-car train carriage Griffiths purchased a few years ago with the idea of converting it into a dining space or accommodation.
There is also a two-bedroom managers’ residence attached to the inn.
Listing agent Rachelle Barnett from Elders Young said the Old Bridge Inn was well placed to capitalise on the wedding business generated in the region and travellers passing through.
“The big thing about Gundagai is it’s the midway point between Sydney and Melbourne,” she said. “What Gundagai is lacking is a quality place for people to wine and dine.”
Although nearby areas were impacted by the recent floods, Barnett said the inn was out of the flood level.
She spoke highly of her client, Neil Griffiths, and hoped a sale in the near future would bring him joy in such difficult circumstances.
“He is a very well-respected man of Gundagai, and I’d love for Neil to … see someone take on his vision and run with it.”
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