After 22 years of service in Broken Hill, the Astra has been put up for sale.
Owner David Trinder said, “We are very emotional letting go because this is our life’s work, and we love doing what we do”.
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from ABC
It may look like an average run-of-the-mill pub, but The Astra has been a beacon of hospitality in Broken Hill for decades.
Under the “passionate” ownership of David and Maryanne Trinder, it has offered fine dining, a dessert bar, a classic pub, outdoor dining café, boutique accommodation and takeaway pizza.
But after 22 years, the Trinders have decided to put the business complex up for sale — although they will keep a slice of their legacy in the takeaway pizza shop.
Mr Trinder admitted that time was of the essence as the couple approached their mid-60s.
“We are very emotional letting go because this is our life’s work, and we love doing what we do.
“We’re passionate.”
A vision for Broken Hill
Mr Trinder moved to Broken Hill from Perth in 1982 and initially set up shop at the old crystal motel at the age of 23.
From there, he bought another café on Argent Street, and then spent 11 years working at one of Broken Hill’s four clubs before eventually buying The Astra hotel complex.
“We’ve got so much more in us, and what do we put the rest of our time in?
He described the need to “transition” as a “wake-up call”.
“I’m 64 [and] Maryanne is 65,” Mr Trinder said.
“We don’t look it but we feel it.
“We want to do it when we’re on an up.”
The multifaceted venue will go on the market with an expected starting price of $3.5 million.
Post-COVID trade booms
Broken Hill has been experiencing a much-needed tourism boom after many events that injected money into the local economy were brought to a standstill by COVID-19 restrictions.
“During COVID we invested a lot of time and energy refurbishing,” Mr Trinder said.
With travel no longer restricted, Mr Trinder said business was back on the rise.
“I believe in the future of Broken Hill … and it would be great to have someone local who just picks up with it and runs,” he said.
He recalled how when he started investing in Broken Hill, people often said he was “crazy”.
“Well this is where we live and if you look around you’ll see our life’s work and value we’ve put into this place,” Mr Trinder said.
“We proved them wrong.”
