The silvery-white alkali metal lithium is one of the building blocks of the world’s economic future, an essential component in the development of electric vehicles.
The profitable Kingsley Motel and Cabernet restaurant at Manjimup on the southern tip of Western Australia is also looking at lithium as one of the building blocks for even greater returns.
The substantially renovated freehold motel in a boom region 300 kilometres south of Perth already returns a net profit of $608K and is on offer for $3,950,000.
The property represents an outstanding opportunity to secure a high-quality regional motel and restaurant which operates with limited competition.
The motel is looking at capitalising on the success of the Taruga lithium mining company which is undertaking expansions in the area.
Another company, Fulton Hogan, is also involved in major roadworks and infrastructure projects in the region.
Blair Macdonald, from Resort Brokers, said Manjimup had become a hub for major road construction and with lithium mining booming, the future looked even brighter for an already successful accommodation business.
Mr Macdonald said the owners had invested more than $750,000 of renovations and improvements into the motel over the last five years, investments that would pay dividends for new operators.
And with high demand for accommodation in the area the owners are spending another $260,000 to add six additional queen ensuite rooms to the motel, bringing the number of rooms to 43.
There is also ample space for additional accommodation units to facilitate future growth
The property predominantly caters for corporate clients, with long-term and repeat bookings.
Mr Macdonald said the Kingsley offered a marvellous “tree change” opportunity situated in the great southern forests of Western Australia.
More than 80 percent of the Manjimup region is national park and forest, with stunning walking trails, tranquil picnic areas such as the Glenoran Pool and the King Jarrah Tree.
The Manjimup Timber and Heritage Park contains a museum, historical village, vintage machinery, and a blacksmith’s forge. It provides a fascinating insight into the local industry and the area’s proud logging heritage.
Manjimup’s Four Aces are a straight row of karri trees that were growing long before Europeans settled Australia.
The nearby One Tree Bridge was hewn from a single karri tree.
And while the vast forested areas surrounding Manjimup started out as timber country, the region is also known for its wonderful fresh produce. Intermingled with tall karri forest, the surrounding farmlands are home to a thriving fruit and vegetable industry.
The iconic Pink Lady apple was developed in Manjimup more than half a century ago, and more recently there has been a push in the farming of avocadoes, green tea, finger limes and the rare gourmet black Périgord truffles, the first mainland truffles grown in Australia.
Manjimup truffles are used in many of the world’s top restaurants including Heston Blumenthal’s The Fat Duck in England.
Truffle season in Manjimup lasts from June to August. Visitors can join in the hunt for the delicacies as they follow the highly trained truffle dogs as they sniff their way through the local orchards looking for the highly prized fungi.
Visitors can also buy the freshest farm produce straight from the farm gate, including apples, pears, cherries, nectarines, kiwi fruit, chestnuts, hazelnuts, cauliflower, broccoli, carrots, and corn.
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