THE HEART OF MARGARET RIVER TOWN
An ambitious project of Western Australia’s Heytesbury Wine Group with leading architects, spacegency, the landmark revitalisation of an Australian heritage treasure will soon be revealed, with the reopening of the Margaret River Hotel.
Located within one of the world’s great wine regions, the Margaret River Hotel’s town address places it as the centrepoint to explore the breathtaking wine, dining, art, nature and adventure of a Conde Nast Traveller, ‘Best Place to Go in 2026.’
The Margaret River Hotel is a jewel of architecture and design, which has been faithfully restored to its original glory and modernised with tasteful, first-class amenities. The one-of-a-kind ‘Arts & Crafts’ era hotel features 28 bespoke rooms, a tasteful boardroom and garden, plus onsite access to the longest-standing bar and dining room of Margaret River. Additionally, guests benefit from insider connections to the region’s finest attractions.
a landmark renovation
In dire need of restoration, Margaret River’s original hotel was stripped to its 1936 bones, fixed structurally, and upgraded to modern specifications, in a painstaking five-year project.
One piece at a time, the original roof beams and tiles, cornices, window panes, doors and timber floors, were removed, restored or replaced like-for-like, then reinstalled. Trades specialists completed the work with meticulous detail and a brief to retain original materials, where possible. Over 250m² of render was hand-removed from the exterior walls to reveal the Hotel’s defining brickwork that was covered in the 1980s. The ground floor was finally levelled.
With the heritage honoured, the Hotel quarters were reimagined for the modern traveller and a growing tourism region, via a modest extension, clad with local materials: rammed earth and recycled Jarrah. The accommodation floor now comprises 28 rooms, enclosing a discrete dining room / courtyard, and with guest parking underneath. A new lift makes this first floor accessible to all, for the first time in history.
MARGARET RIVER’S ORIGINAL BAR & DINING ROOM
Within the Margaret River Hotel lives the town’s beloved gathering place, a bar and dining room opened to great fanfare by founder and hospitality pioneer Mr. Bernard McKeown, in April 1936. In a time before electricity, Bernard ensured the lights were on, and the drinks were cold for locals and lodgers alike, with a diesel engine.
Over generations, the bar has nurtured memories, town visionaries, and no-doubt, a marriage or two. In 2026, the Hotel celebrates its 90th anniversary and when the doors open again, everyone is invited to gather over local beer, wine, spirits and all-day grazing, lunch ‘til late. The new dining room’s a la carte menu will showcase Western Australia’s excellent produce, delivered with good, old-fashioned hospitality.
heritage-listed architecture
The Margaret River Hotel is entered on the State Register of Heritage Places and Classified by the National Trust, where it is also listed for Exceptional Significance and on the Art Deco Significant Building Survey, reflecting its unique and important history and form.
Heritage Architecture Statement: The Hotel is a two-storey rendered brick and tile building that exhibits elements of the Inter-War Old English architectural style, together with evidence of the influence of the Inter-War Art Deco and Arts & Crafts styles in its architectural composition and detailing. It was constructed in 1936, with substantial extensions built in 1985. The Margaret River Hotel is a rare and very fine example of the Inter-War Old English architectural style, and a fine example of the work of architect F.G.B Hawkins and builder C.W. Arnott (Source: Margaret River Hotel Heritage Assessment Report, Heritage Council WA, 2008).
‘arts & crafts’ philosophy
Of the architectural influences on the Margaret River Hotel, the ‘Arts & Crafts’ style was embraced in the 2020s revitalisation, for its ability to transcend generations, showcase Western Australia’s prized natural materials, and embody the creative spirit of the South-West community.
The Arts & Crafts movement reached its peak in the early 1900s. It championed craftsmanship, honest materials and the integration of art into everyday life. Buildings were intended to feel grounded in their landscape, rather than manufactured. Bricks and timber were often left exposed, with handmade tiles and cabinetry encouraged. Asymmetrical elements such as irregular rooflines, gables and varied window groupings were intentional, and subtle patterns in brickwork were purposeful, and never excessive. The effect is picturesque and one-of-a-kind architecture, that champions enduring design, craft and simplicity. These features are ever-present in the Margaret River Hotel, and the principles steered this transformative project.
