Investor buys office for NT’s first voco hotel
Prominent Territory developer John Halikos has purchased Darwin’s rundown Health House and pre-committed IHG Hotels & Resorts to operate it as a voco following a luxury high-end conversion and extension.
The five level office on 2030 square metres at 87 Mitchell Street, cost $7.7 million including GST.
A development application lodged January seeks to repurpose the 5245 sqm of area as 87 suites, a gym, meeting room and restaurant.
The project will also include a pool and 45 car parks.
If approved, Voco Darwin Suites, as the property would be branded, could trade by the end of the year.
It would bring to six the number of Australian vocos including one in Gosford set to open soon.
The pre-commitment comes a week since we reported IHG leased Harry Seidler’s only hotel, in Brisbane, from ISPT, for an InterContinental.
JH Group doubles down in Mitchell Street
The Mitchell St building would be IHG’s first Northern Territory voco.
Mr Halikos’ JH Group is also in the process of buying the Poinciana Inn across the road at 84 Mitchell St for $6.6m.
Coupled with the neighbouring Noodle House, an as yet undisclosed commercial project is planned.
Elsewhere in the CBD, the investor holds the H on Mitchell Apartment Hotel, at #105. At Bynoe, about 30 kilometres south west of Darwin – but more than triple that to drive – Mr Halikos’ book also includes the Crab Claw Resort.
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