Advertising guru John “Singo” Singleton is planning to build a modern motel in Gosford after filing plans to extend “The Elly”.
Singleton’s investment arm Bonython purchased the Elanora Hotel on the Central Coast in 2019 for around $25 million. With an adjoining block, the holding is a sizable 7775sq m site.
The $32-million plans would extend the hotel and replace a former motel, car park, drive-through bottle shop and carwash at the site at16-20 Brougham, 29-45 Victoria, and 27 Adelaide streets, East Gosford.
The aging buildings would be demolished to make way for a three-storey motel with 60 rooms, drive-through bottle shop, car parking areas and an extension to the hotel on the north-east side of the site.
It would double the Elanora Hotel gross floor area to 2300sq m as well as new appearance—a light-coloured brick finish with vertical articulation along Adelaide Street, according to designs by Loopcreative.
It is one of many hospitality-based ventures for the media mogul, who has collaborated with Gerry Harvey, Andrew Griffiths and Mark Carnegie on developments in decades past including Icebergs Bondi Beach and Moore Park’s entertainment quarter.
In recent years the John Singleton Group has focused on the Central Coast and launched the Railway Hotel at Gosford in August, 2022.
The Central Coast Council is making a concerted effort to revamp the region’s night-time economy as a core part of its development strategy to 2040.
One of the key findings of the night-time economy draft report that is on exhibition until February was the “overall lack of vibrancy and things to do at night” in the Central Coast townships.
Council unit manager of economic development and property Jamie Barclay said they wanted to support after-dark operations and provide more opportunities for employment and tourism.
“Night-time economy businesses are more than nightclubs,” Barclay said.
“They provide residents with places to go, socialise and enjoy the night hours.
“This could include food, beverage, and entertainment venues such as restaurants, food trucks, cafes, pubs, bars, theatres, cinemas, and live music venues.
“The end-game is to enhance and activate the night-time economy and create better places for the local community and visitors to enjoy after dark on the Central Coast.”
Investment on the Central Coast ramped up in 2023 with Sydney-based developer and builder Aland breaking ground on a $375-million twin-tower apartment project in Gosford.
Maxims Building Co lodged plans in September to increase the number of apartments in its seven-storey residential development in the heart of Gosford.
Singo has multiple projects in the region including the Saddle Nursery at Mount White, Ravello Residences at Point Frederick, the Bonython Commercial Tower and the nearby Pretty Beach House hotel to name a few.
