Welcome

YOUR ‘HOME AWAY FROM HOME’ IS RECEIVING SOME TLC

Margaret River Hotel founder Bernard McKeown was a pioneer and a visionary. He saw the potential of Margaret River well before its tourism industry began, purchasing land in the 1930s and building our region’s treasured hotel. His goal was to create ‘a home away from home’ for locals and travellers alike. Since the doors opened in April 1936, it’s fair to say the Margaret River Hotel has been exactly that.

The Margaret River Hotel is approaching its centenary and it’s timely to give our town’s ‘home away from home’ some TLC. Our private, family-owned company, Heytesbury, is very excited to have the opportunity to revitalise this special property. 

Doing this with appropriate care and respect of the building’s heritage and engineering will take some time and we look forward to welcoming you back to The Margaret Hotel and Corner Bar soon. We invite you to subscribe for updates to stay informed.

A PROJECT TO REVITALISE MARGARET RIVER’S HOSPITALITY CENTRE

The heritage-listed Margaret River Hotel was the second (and oldest surviving) hotel to be built in the Augusta-Margaret River Region, opening in August 1936. Our project will revitalise this important property, celebrating its heritage and Margaret River’s unique culture and attractions, while delivering a contemporary hospitality experience for the modern traveller and community.

ABOUT THE ARCHITECTURE

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 and 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). 

The 2021 revitalisation team includes spaceagency Architects (Premier Mill Hotel Katanning, The Farmers Home Hotel Northam, The Alex Hotel Perth), with building by a team of South-West based contractors.