ALL it took was a picnic on the beach at the Q Station with his family for Glenn Piper to decide he wanted to make it his own.
The Curl Curl man already owns the recently renovated Harbord Hotel, and when his friend texted him that the Q Station's leasehold was for sale, Mr Piper grabbed his wife Alexandra and their three children and headed there to check it out.
"We went down to the beach and it was a beautiful sunny day. The cafe was busy, they had the music playing," he said.
"I was just inspired by that setting and from then we decided 'OK, let's have a look at this and see if it's something we can achieve'.
"Thirty hectares of real estate on Sydney Harbour, that is pretty significant, and having the opportunity to run a hospitality venue on a piece of land of that size with national significance and its historic value, I wanted to be a part of it."
Preservation's crucial, it probably holds the most history of any other piece of real estate in Sydney.
- Glenn Piper
With settlement on February 28, Mr Piper is already busy planning for the site's future and that will include enhancing existing operations, establishing new ones, and protecting the built and natural environment.
"Preservation's crucial. It probably holds the most history of any other piece of real estate in Sydney and that needs to be protected," he said.
"I'll certainly be looking for ways to offer some improvements in the way that the history is represented.
"I'd like to further establish the food and beverage offerings so it can be a stand-alone offering for the general public to use, as well as the guests," he said. "It could definitely become one of the most in-demand venues for weddings in Sydney."
Mr Piper's keen to do more with underutilised buildings, and an art gallery could be included. There's no changes planned for the hugely popular ghost tours, and the beach will remain accessible to the public.
"My approach to hospitality is to create a unique offering which is built around the told and untold stories of the property. I love the heritage and the history of the venue and I'll draw inspiration from its past to create its future."
Mr Piper declined to say how much he paid for the leasehold (which runs until 2050). The sale attracted significant international interest and bids, and was valued around $15-$20 million.
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