23 Apr 2020
Words Alicia Nally Cairns Post

Sea Change Spurs Family To Run Tablelands Motel

ONE of the Atherton Tablelands’ most popular and longest running motels has changed hands with the Mareeba Motor Inn being snapped up by “sea changers” from Melbourne.

The motel, at 163 Martin Avenue, is a 23 room resort-style property for short and long term stays with beautiful gardens and swimming pool plus licensed restaurant and bar.

Husband and wife team Brad and Georgie Sleurink bought the leasehold to operate the motel while the freehold passive investment was sold to an investor, also from Melbourne, for $1.8 million.

The couple, who have a young son, traded in their corporate lifestyle in Melbourne – Brad was a lawyer and Georgie an architect – for a new business and direction in life.

“We both previously worked stressful jobs and we wanted to spend more time with our son and purchasing a motel has allowed us that opportunity,” Brad Sleurink said.

“It has also given Georgie the chance to learn more about the accommodation industry as she hopes to design her own accommodation one day.”

Both the leasehold and freehold was sold by Shane Croghan of ResortBrokers who said the hard working couple picked up an outstanding business investment.

“This motel is relatively easy to run and was a perfect first accommodation business for Brad and Georgie and it was showing a ROI of around 50 percent with plenty of upside, which is really rare,” Croghan said.

“The previous operators also maintained and refurbished the motel, putting all profits back into the business so that freed Brad and Georgie up to get in and learn the ropes without any distractions.”

The learning curve has been steep but the couple are enjoying the challenge of their massive career change.

“It has been a whirlwind, there is a lot to learn very quickly. That being said, we have retained a lot of the staff who are amazing and have made it an easy transition,” Brad said.

“We are heavily involved in the day to day activities of the business from cleaning to book keeping to serving meals, so we are learning as we go.”

Like other moteliers across the country, the Sleurinks say they have already been affected by the travel restrictions caused by the coronavirus outbreak. However, they have the belief that if they can ride the quiet period until travellers and corporates start moving again, they should benefit from a lift in business.

ResortBrokers’ Shane Croghan also says that the fallout from the coronavirus lockdowns in the capital cities, especially Sydney and Melbourne, will lead to more “tree and sea changers” enquiring about businesses in Cairns and surrounding areas.

“The coronavirus pandemic has shown us that there is a massive difference between life in the major cities and life up this way,” Croghan said.

“Mareeba is a beautiful town, we absolutely love it here,” Brad said.

“We are still getting used to the heat after living all of our lives in Victoria, but we love the ‘300 days of sunshine’.

“The people have been incredibly friendly, I have joined the Mareeba Rotary Club and they have made us feel right at home.”

Even with the long days and the steep learning curve, the couple say they have absolutely no regrets about making the big switch.

“Buying the motel has given us the chance to spend more time together and with our little boy. I wouldn’t trade that for anything.”