EX-PUB IS ALL CLASS
The Courthouse Hotel is no more – a private college is now on the site that had been a pub since 1885
THE famous Courthouse Hotel sign in Southport has finally come down.
Yesterday, the sign was replaced by one reading ‘Academique College’ – the name of the new tenant who provides English language, remedial massage, hospitality and other courses.
Academique principal David Dolley told What’s the Deal that the moving in process had been an arduous one.
“Getting the change of use approval (for use as an education facility) was more complicated and took longer than we thought,” he said.
“We were using one contractor (for the fitout) but it wasn’t working so we had to get someone else to do it. The bar was very difficult to move because it had a concrete base. I don’t think it wanted to go.”
The Courthouse, formerly owned by Hot Tomato radio station chief Hans Torv, sold in 2016 for $4.07 million to Ohreka Pty Ltd, linked to Korean-born investor Taek Oh.
This is the first time that the pub, which was founded as the Queen’s Arm Hotel in 1885, has seen activity after it closed in June, 2015.
The school made the move to consolidate its two offices at 52 Davenport St and 18 Rawlins St into one landmark location.
Mr Dolley said walls had been painted and polycarbonate panels made to act as classroom dividers upstairs.
“So as classes get bigger and smaller we can easily change the classroom size,” he said.
He said some work remained such as painting the ceiling, but students have been able to attend classes there. He said if they spent more money on the fit-out they would not have been able to afford the move.
“It is great, it has a very warm feeling, and is unlike any other school,” he said. “We stood on the balcony and said we are the kings of Southport.”
However, the fact it has not been a pub for three years remains news to some. “We have people come in asking if they can get a drink,” he said adding that the response was a polite ‘no’.