WHEN a 27 year-old Simon Walsh first came to Canungra he was on a six month mission.
That mission was to find a full-time manager for the Canungra Hotel which his father, former Coffs Harbour solicitor, Tony Walsh, had just purchased.
Now 16 years later Simon is still at the pub and importantly he’s not complaining that he failed in his search for a new manager.
“I fell in the love with the district and the people and have enjoyed every day of my time here,” he said.
Over the past 16 years Simon has watched over numerous renovations at the Canungra Hotel including expanding its accomodation to 11 renovated rooms.
“We haven’t finished yet and to ensure future planning opportunities we bought the two adjoining blocks,” Simon said.
“Now we have a DA ready for the council for a big project which unfortunately I cannot reveal at the moment, but it’s exciting.”
Simon’s role as the publican of the Canungra Hotel was recently expanded when his father grabbed an opportunity to buy the St Bernards Hotel at Tamborine Mountain.
Now he looks after both and once again he has committed to growing the new business.
“We also have projects underway for St Bernards surrounding more accommodation and renovations,” he said.
“The extra work doesn’t worry me and it’s quite manageable with the proximity and synergies between the two venues.”
Simon admitted that it hadn’t all been plain sailing during his time at Canungra.
“The Covid period was particularly difficult with us having to shut the doors, but we survived with takeaway meals and the bottle shop still operating,” he said.
“The good thing was that once we were allowed to open up again business started to increase and it’s continuing on that trend.”
Simon boasts plenty of pub experience behind him after first starting out as a part-time bar attendant at the Club Hotel in Armidale where he was attending University.
He must have shown the publican his suitability for pub life, because in just over two years he was appointed as the hotel manager.
Now with two pubs to run and renovation projects happening Simon is assured of staying a Scenic Rim resident for many years to come.
Many of the friends he’s made over the past 16 years will say “Here’s Cheers” to that.
