Historic hotel joins in on spring clean

One of Bunbury’s most iconic pubs is doing its bit to add vibrancy to the CBD.

The Rose Hotel is in full bloom and is harder than ever to miss with new banners and upgraded neon signage.

Owner Dave Allan said refurbishment of the 150-year-old pub had been a big project.

“We’re slowly trying to bring back the heritage aspect of the hotel, so the brand new neon signs on the corner are recreations of signs that were on the building in the 1920s,” Mr Allan said.

“We worked really hard with the council and also the State heritage department to come up with a solution that was reflective of the heritage of the building.

“So it has been a big project and years in the making to get this stuff through and approved, but we’re slowly getting on top of it.”

It comes as Mayor Gary Brennan and City of Bunbury staff called on business owners to play their part in “brightening up the CBD”.

Mr Brennan said it was as simple as businesses hanging flower baskets on shop fronts, such as the pub and retailers like Essence and Brooklyn For Men had done.

Works and services director Gavin Harris said the more business owners did, the better off Bunbury would be.

“The community and businesses need to come along with what the city is doing as well to present our CBD area in the best possible light,” Mr Harris said.

“If we can get private business people involved as well, then the better off Bunbury’s going to be if we can put on the right look for visitors that come here.”

Mr Allan said Bunbury had “a lot of potential”.

“There’s a massive catchment, there’s a big population and the population wants to get a current offering and something that represents their taste and interest,” he said.

“All we’re trying to do is meet the market ultimately, so the better we represent what our customers want the busier we’ll be.

“We’re very focused on making a venue that is where people want to be.

“We feel that Bunbury has got a lot of potential and certainly moving in the right direction.”