Pub becomes student accommodation
A group of Wollongong university students will this year call the pub home, following a $500,000 refurbishment at Fairy Meadow’s Charles Hotel.
The upstairs floor of the 60-year-old watering hole – formerly home to 11 rooms, a handful of tenants and some grimy, aged carpet – has been gutted and transformed into a gleaming student dorm, according to the Illawarra Mercury.
There are now 16 private rooms – each with their own air-conditioner, fridge, bed and desk – a communal kitchen, common room, computer room and universal free wi-fi.
Rooms can be leased long-term at a cost of $180-$220 a week, depending on the size of the bed and whether there is a window (three rooms are without).
The dorm retains a few hallmarks of its vintage, including high ceilings, an Art Deco-style stair rail and some sturdy old foyer tiling in the bathrooms, which are accessed by gender-specific swipe cards.
The hotel is part of the Woolworths-owned ALH Group, that owns and operates almost 300 venues nationally.
Venue manager Maria Kramar said incoming residents were not deterred by the thought of sleeping above a potentially busy nightspot. “Most of the uni students, once they’ve realised that it’s attached to a pub, are stoked,” Ms Kramar said.
“There’s a shortage of university student accommodation in the area. We just figured it would be a good market to target.”
The refurbishment comes as UOW investigates new ways to keep pace with the demand for student accommodation.
In 2011, about 2300 students applied for 1430 UOW-run housing places.
A recent review found at least another 1100 beds would be needed by 2020.
The university is negotiating with prospective partners to provide more beds from next year.
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