Albany in Western Australia will gain new holiday accommodation following DevelopmentWA’s Middleton Beach hotel site was signed over to buyers Pacifica Developments and Ausglobal Group yesterday, and Seashells Hospitality Group named as the operator of the 80 to 100 room hotel.
Seashells’ Managing Director, Paul King, explained that Albany had been in the company’s sights for 15 years. His deep, long-standing personal connections with Albany helped drive his passion to be a part of something truly special on the much-loved Middleton beachfront.
“My grandfather was one of the 40,000-plus Australian soldiers whose last experience of their country was in Albany before they sailed from King George Sound for Gallipoli in 1914,” he shared.
“I’ve been visiting Albany since I was a kid and have great memories of family holidays with siblings, parents and grandparents, caravanning at Emu Point.”
“I’m excited about continuing my relationship with this incredible part of the world and working with our partners in developing and operating a multi-faceted hotel on such a magnificent beachfront location – it really doesn’t get much better,” Mr King said.
The hotel will provide a choice of one and two-bedroom spacious stylish suites suited perfectly for leisure travellers. It will also include food and beverage experiences for locals and tourists and supporting function facilities.
It is anticipated that the successful architect for the project will be engaged in early 2021, with a local architect already in place to provide input from a local perspective.
Western Australian Minister for Tourism, the Hon. Paul Papalia CSC MLA, congratulated Seashells on helping to make a new hotel at the iconic Middleton Beach a reality.
“Middleton Beach is one of WA’s best beaches and is increasingly becoming a prime tourist destination, but it has lacked a landmark hotel with beach frontage,” the Minister said.
“This new hotel is the missing piece of the puzzle to transform Middleton Beach into one of the Great Southern’s most attractive tourist locations.”
The development is anticipated to create 180 construction jobs and dozens more ongoing employment and training opportunities once the hotel is operational.