Welcome to the Hurley Hotel Group (HHG). We are a family-owned business established and operating in South Australia for over 45 years.

Our journey began when Peter Hurley purchased the Wudinna Hotel in 1975, with Peter leaving behind a career in teaching. At the Wudinna Hotel, Peter met the new local nursing sister Jenny Pengelly. Peter sold a share of the Wudinna Hotel to his brother Brian & sister-in-law Robyn in January 1978 when he purchased the lease of the Spencer Hotel in Whyalla. Peter married Jenny in July 1979.

In December 1979, Peter & Jenny purchased the lease of the Hotel Royal at Torrensville, their first suburban hotel, where they resided upstairs. In those days, the SA Brewing Company owned over 100 SA Hotel Freeholds, including the Royal, and leased them on considerably shorter leases compared to the present day.

In 1984, Peter & Jenny purchased the lease of another SA Brewing Hotel, the Marion Hotel at Mitchell Park. It had been operated by the same family since being built in the late ‘60’s and was one of the larger suburban hotels within the working-class neighbourhood. Through hard work and high volumes, the hotel resulted in profitable outcomes for the Hurleys.

In 1991, the iconic Arkaba Hotel was in the hands of receivers, amongst the background of the worst recession since the Second World War. Peter had a vision to reinvigorate the run-down hotel and after a long wait for approvals from the bank, they finally owned their first Freehold Hotel. Peter’s brother, Tony Hurley took the reins of the bottle shop and has established a remarkable retail liquor business at the site.

In 1994, SA Brewing Company was in the hands of an international company and made the decision to sell the Hotel Freeholds. With Peter’s assistance, a plan was conceived where the current tenants would have the option to purchase their Freeholds in 2 halves, the first in 1994 and the balance in 1999. Based on the plan, Peter & Jenny decided to purchase the freehold of Hotel Royal, Marion Hotel and Torrens Arms Hotel. This was one of the most important business decisions they have made.

At the same time, gaming machines were introduced to SA changing the nature of the pub business by increasing profitability and led to major renovations and expansion within the Hurley Hotels.

More hotels were subsequently purchased by the Hurleys with other partners. The Tonsley Hotel in 1997, the Alma Tavern in 2000 with Adelaide Crows legends Mark Ricciuto and Simon Goodwin, the Kensington Hotel, the Hackney Hotel and the Pretoria Hotel at Mannum.

In 2007, the impressive Port Lincoln Hotel opened, which included 111 accommodation rooms. The property was built by Sime “Sam” Sarin, a Port Lincoln based fisherman. Peter & Jenny, together with Mark Ricciuto and Simon Goodwin, completed a $10m fit out of the property and oversaw the creation of a regional success story.

Today, the Hurley Hotel Group operates 8 hotels across South Australia, in addition to having shares in the Golden Grove Tavern at Surrey Downs, and the Murray Bridge Hotel.

Early in 2019, the Hurleys also purchased their first hotel interstate, acquiring the Ivory Waterside in Tweed Heads NSW. Shortly after the purchase, Peter’s daughter Samantha and husband Scott Oakley moved to the state to take over management of the hotel. 

In 2022, Hurley Hotel Group was informed that their much-loved Tonsley Hotel would need to be acquired and demolished by the South Australian Government as part of the Torrens to Darlington Road project. The demolition was scheduled for December 2023. In response, HHG made plans to build a $60 million hotel on part of the former TAFE site in Panorama, which would replace the Tonsley. During the interim period between the demolition of the Tonsley Hotel and the completion of the nearby Hotel Panorama, Hurley Hotel Group sought to create a space for the local community to gather, resulting in the creation of the Tonsorama pop-up pub.

Many elements of the Tonsley Hotel were thoughtfully incorporated into the Tonsorama pop-up, including repurposed furnishings and the iconic Chrysler cars from the Tonsley’s Chrysler Bar.

In early 2024, the Alma Tavern was sold to another hospitality group, marking the end of many years of rich history and strong community ties.

Construction of Hotel Panorama began in February 2024, with the project expected to be completed by early 2026. Once finished, the hotel will feature a casual café-bar, a restaurant with a cosy sunken fire lounge, a gaming room, a sports bar with an outdoor area, and a rooftop bar with multiple function spaces offering breathtaking views of the ocean, city and Adelaide Hills. The hotel will also include 77 accommodation rooms across three levels, including 26 studio apartments.

Peter and Jenny believe that a strong team is essential to the success of a large company. Hurley Hotel Group employs over 600 staff, many of whom have been with the company long-term. Peter and Jenny’s children—Nick, Samantha, Anna—and their son-in-law Scott have all worked within the business, contributing to its ongoing success.

Other significant investments include:

• Arkaba Village Shopping Centre
• Willow Point Winery
• Surrey Downs Shopping Centre (in partnership)
• Newbridge Property Development at Murray Bridge (in partnership)

Additionally, Hurley Hotel Group has made substantial investments into renovations across their portfolio in recent years:

September 2018 – August 2019
Marion Hotel – $20 Million Redevelopment
3 Dining Areas, Gaming Room, Accommodation, Function Spaces, Cellars, Hotel Reception

February 2022 – December 2023
Hotel Royal: $8 Million Redevelopment
Restaurant, Bar & Courtyard, Gaming Room, Back Pocket Sports Bar, Cellars & upstairs Function Room

June 2022 – November 2022
Port Lincoln Hotel
Sarin’s Restaurant, Bayside & new Outdoor Area

April 2023 – December 2023
Arkaba Hotel: $12 Million Redevelopment
Restaurant, Lounge Bar, Sportys & Outdoor Area, Function Spaces, Hotel Reception

– About Peter & Jenny –

Peter Hurley
Champion of Entrepreneurship | 2015 Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Awards
Former AHA|SA President for 24 years
2023 Peter Burnett Medal
AHA|SA & AHA National Body Life Member
Adelaide Football Club Life Member
Adelaide Oval SMA Board Non-Executive Director

Jenny Hurley
Patron – Mary Potter Foundation
Founder – Chip in for Mary Potter Golf Day
Patron – Project Discovery – Neil Sachse Foundation
Director – Sturt Football Club
Women’s AHA|SA Hall of Fame 2013