One of Australia’s most popular boutique outback retreats has hit the market with a price tag of $10 million for the family-run business in Longreach, western Queensland.

The award-winning Saltbush Retreat is a rustic and beautiful accommodation which is truly unique. It was bought and developed by Damien and Judy Kennedy and David (Judy’s brother) and Tanya Neal in 2018.

Set on 2.5 hectares near the centre of town in Longreach, Saltbush Retreat is located within 200 metres of the Qantas Founders Museum and it’s also just 200 metres from Australian Stockman's Hall of Fame and Outback Heritage Centre.

With 44 keys made up of huts, cabins and self-contained rooms, Saltbush Retreat has delivered a net profit of $1,650,000 over the past 12 months while receiving rave reviews from guests and from national and international publications.

“What prompted the decision to sell? The timing suited us. We are all ready for the next adventure,” Damien Kennedy says.

“We also believe it’s a serendipitous opportunity for the next owners because we reckon we are at the cusp of sustained interest in destinations of the uniqueness, quality and location of Saltbush Retreat,” he says. 

The property is being marketed for sale by ResortBrokers Managing Director Trudy Crooks and Chairman Ian Crooks who described the business as a “one of a kind”.

“Saltbush Retreat somehow manages to successfully blend Australia’s historical pioneering spirit with luxury and high class facilities and amenities,” Ms Crooks said.

“Travellers who are drawn to the red dirt and expansive outback have come to realise that this one of a kind accommodation makes an ideal base camp for exploring this vibrant region thanks to its connection to its surroundings and the creature comforts that are on offer,” she said.

“It reflects the unique textures and tones of the romance of the Australian Outback and this is why it receives rave reviews from guests and from national and international publications.”

Saltbush Retreat has featured in glowing review-style articles in The Australian, Australian Traveller and The Daily Mail UK. One of the common themes for the praise is the outdoor bath terrace, where guests can stargaze at night and watch shooting stars.

“The idea behind the low-lying dwellings is to house guests in style while blending into the landscape and these accommodations do just that. The slab huts, which are crafted out of red gum using traditional outback building techniques, are surrounded by the saltbush the retreat is named after,” David Neal said.

The retreat has won a slew of awards, including the 2019 Queensland Tourism Award for Self-Contained Accommodation and the Outback Queensland Tourism Award for Accommodation that same year.

Both the Kennedys and the Neals are highly experienced hoteliers who have been working as a team since 1995 when they went into business together at the Emerald Town Motor Inn and the foursome say they will miss Saltbush Retreat when they hand it over.

“It is a fantastic business to have owned and managed with a very eclectic and broad based clientele who have been very keen to experience our beautiful part of the world,” Judy Kennedy said.

“We also enjoyed not having a busy restaurant to operate which allowed us to focus solely on providing an exceptional accommodation experience to our guests,” she said. 

“We will also miss the relationships we built over many years with our staff and clients and also with our suppliers, fellow hospitality businesses and the broader community with whom we engaged through Saltbush Retreat.”

David and Tanya Neal, who also currently own and operate the nearby five star glamping business Mitchell Grass Retreat, said they also believed it was the right time to sell and felt they had achieved their goal of creating an experience that resonates with people who love to explore in style.

“We are proud of what we achieved, but I prefer to describe it as a sense of deep satisfaction and accomplishment,” Tanya Neal said.

“By working with staff and management with the same philosophy, we have always done our best to concentrate on the care and service of our clients with the belief the financial returns would follow. I think we have shown that philosophy has worked at Saltbush Retreat.

To request a copy of the Information Memorandum please contact one of the marketing agents ResortBrokers Managing Director Trudy Crooks and Chairman Ian Crooks via the contact details below.

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