OLD NAME FOR NEW HOTEL
New venue will feature old name
THE name of a historic pub north of Toowoomba is set to be revived, after plans for a new hotel were approved by the council this week.
Amateur brewer Nathan Semmens and his partner Valerie Chua hope to open the Range View Hotel on the New England Highway in Highfields next year.
The new pub, which would feature a restaurant, bar, bottle shop and speciality stores, borrowed its name from a previous hotel which was founded in the late 19th century before closing in 1938.
Mr Semmens, who has won state awards for his brewing, said the name arrived by accident.
“Basically, we were trying to brainstorm a name and my mum suggested the Valley View, but Range View was suggested and I started searching online to check if it had been taken and I found the old pub.
“The first pub was originally up where the AFL grounds are, along the New England Highway.”
Once completed, Mr Semmens will supply customers with a selection of beers from around the world, including his own brews from his other business, the Monty Brewing Company.
“We’re in discussions with a guy from Melbourne called Spark Brewing, and he’s sending up a brew-pub system that fits into small spaces.
“We did a lot of space-cutting (from the original plan) and we’ve reduced the size to increase the patronage and give better views of the range.
“I’ve got a production brewery up here in Highfields, so I can at least produce more 50litres batches of those original beers.
“With this Melbourne brewery, we can produce up to 500 litres and that can be served directly off the tap.”
Mr Semmens said he hoped to use local contractors.