Uncertain future for year-old restaurant

Businessman’s venture in liquidation

THE future of The Florence Public House is uncertain, after another of co-owner Mic Uebergang’s business ventures was placed in liquidation.

Mr Uebergang ran Dalgety Public House and the adjacent Meating Room in Teneriffe in Brisbane, and opened Florence Public House with Carl Voll in Toowoomba in July last year.

After shutting his two Teneriffe establishments in May to consider one or more buyout offers, and “temporarily” shutting Toowoomba’s Florence Public House in mid-August “to freshen up for spring”, the trading entity of his Brisbane bars last week was wound-up by a court order.

Australian Securities and Investments Commission records show Thirsty Occasions Pty Ltd, the trading entity of Dalgety Public House and the Meating Room, was wound-up after legal action from Jensen Market Supplies, a familyowned distributor of fruit and veg.

Mr Uebergang could not be reached for comment yesterday regarding The Florence’s future. It has been shut since August.

The liquidation comes off the back of the the Office of Liquor and Gaming Regulation fining The Florence and another of Uebergang’s venues in Bulimba a collective $90,000 in July for selling alcohol without a licence.

Jensen Market Supplies, based at the Rocklea Markets, was trying to recover about $5000 from Thirsty Occasions Pty Ltd.

Liquidator David Hambleton, from accounting firm Rodgers Reidy, told the Courier Mail it was too early to say how much was owing to Thirsty Occasions creditors and attempts to reach Uebergang had been unsuccessful.

He also said the Australian Taxation Office had already flagged debts of $224,000 and noted that no business activity statements had been filed for the calendar year.

Other suppliers have also made themselves known, including Quality Food Services chasing $19,000, Yarra Valley Farms Australia seeking $15,500 and WorkCover Queensland.