Pringles importer to repurpose historic general store
Andrew McCullagh – who introduced Pringles to Australia – has applied to repurpose Swansea’s historic Morris’ General Store as a hotel, office and luxury townhouses (artist’s impression, top).
The Hobart based developer and Northern Midlands councillor is also planning a wine and tapas bar and providore on the 2251 square metre site overlooking Oyster Bay.
Via his construction company, Red Panda, the executive paid $3 million to fifth generation members of the Morris family for the property last year.
It was only the third time the c1834 store, believed to be Australia’s oldest operating supermarket, sold.
Swansea is c135 kilometres both north east of Hobart and south east of Launceston.
Next chapter for Morris’ General Store
Five townhouses form part of the Morris’ General Store redevelopment; these will be priced from $2.75m, a Red Panda spokesperson said.
A 10 room hotel is also planned.
The top level of the building will be fit out as an office for a sailing club, while a basement will contain 10 car parks.
All up there will be 2802 sqm of internal area (story continues below).
The application comes two years since whiskey maker Sullivans Cove announced it would repurpose a waterfront Drill Hall near the Hobart brickworks where it was established in 1994, into a visitor experience centre and manufacturing plant.
Last November, NRMA outlaid c$20m for Lake St Clair’s Pumphouse Point – part of plans to expand into the booming immersion travel sector.
Development pipeline grows
Red Panda has six projects in its book.
“I believe that Swansea is equal to coastal areas of he Mediterranean, with accompanying lifestyle and appreciation of fine dining and wine,” Mr McCullagh said.
“The overall aim for this [Morris’ General Store] project is to elevate the site’s offering for the local community and also tourists passing through and day-tripping,” he added.
The executive, who recently lost a bid to become Northern Midlands mayor, introduced Pringles to Australia in the early 1990s.
Kellogg Company owns that brand after paying founder Proctor & Gamble US$2.695 billion in February, 2012.
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