THE Kinross Woolshed Hotel has had a change of management with lease-holders Paul Quinn and Norm Birse planning on a long-term tree change after relocating from the NSW central coast.
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The business partners have been joined by Mr Quinn’s niece, Danni Oliver, who will also work at the pub after signing up to a 25-year lease with owner Chris Moscher.
Mr Quinn has previously managed a TAB and bottleshop in Port Macquarie and Mr Birse has joined him in the move south from Nambucca Heads.
Mr Birse has operated a hotel in Sydney, but his most recent pub venture was in Prague in the Czech Republic between 2005 and 2012.
“It wouldn’t have been any bigger than the front bar here,” he said.
“But I remember having 137 people for the drawn St Kilda-Collingwood grand final in 2010.
“Pubs should be part of the community and giving back to the community.
“We want this pub to be known in Prague, in London, and I think it can be.
“It really is an iconic building.
“It is a woolshed and represents all the hard work on the land we’re famous for.”
Mr Quinn said they had been looking across NSW for a pub for 12 months and had visited the Kinross six times as part of their due diligence.
“We want to restore the pub’s reputation for having great meals and being a great place to come to,” he said.
“We’re really committed to doing that.”
The new operators said they were given an insight into the potential of the Kinross when Border musician Danny Phegan launched his debut album last Saturday night.
The Kinross has played host to some big-name musical performers including Jimmy Barnes, Vanessa Amorosi, Joe Cameliri, Diesel, Shannon Noll, The Whitlams and had regular country music performers such as Adam Brand, Beccy Cole, Adam Harvey and James Blundell.
Similar acts are on the radar of Mr Birse and Mr Quinn with other promotions also planned for the venue.
The Kinross underwent a major growth phase in the 11-year ownership of Nic Conway, who now operates the Urban Graze restaurant in Dean Street.
Mr Conway sold the pub in mid-2015 to Mr Moscher who has run it for the last two years.
The last big-name act to appear at the Kinross was Jimmy Barnes in January this year, but the event was overshadowed by a patron breaching backstage security.
The Kinross’ origins date back to the 1890s when it was used as a shearing shed on a property near Holbrook.
It was transported to Thurgoona in the late 1980s and rebuilt.