General News
13 January, 2026
Bealiba’s historic hotel hits the market
The historic Evans Hotel is on the market as the owners look to their next chapter and quieter semi-retirement.
Bealiba’s Evans Hotel is looking for new owners as the recent success story hits the market.
After two years of ownership, John Maher and Jonine ‘Jojo’ Naughton are looking for a quieter life after their success at the historic business.
Bought as a bed and breakfast in need of work, the hotel has been transformed into a hive of activity on the edge of the Central Goldfields Shire.
Beyond their original plans the business has expanded to takeaway food seven nights a week and ghost tours that have left their weekends largely booked-out until March.
It’s a far cry from the quiet bed and breakfast that they had expected.
“We moved up here to semi retire and we’re working seven days a week,” Mr Maher said.
“There’s a tremendous amount of work.”
On top of working most of the week at the hotel, including regular late nights, Ms Naughton also has a counselling business which she said will continue after the sale.
It has meant long hours and unexpected demand leaving the pair burned out and ready for something new.
“We just got too busy,” Ms Naughton said.
However, while their time has been short, they’ve left their mark in the business’ history through a transformational renovation.
It’s a new look for a building originally owned and built by George Evans in 1858 after he sold his shares in the Yorkshire Hotel in Timor.
The hotel was the first business founded in Bealiba, with others built around it, forming the main street.
After 1938 it became the only hotel in town, and after 158 years, it closed in 2016 dealing a huge blow to the small community.
Visitors now, however, would see a historic business given new life at the end of the pair’s run.
“It’s to the point now lets cut our stay early and move on to our next chapter,” Mr Maher said.
“For myself, I don’t know, it might actually be retirement.”
While the couple may soon be off the town’s main street they plan to remain in the quiet community for years to come.
“This is one of those towns you could sit in the middle of the main street for two hours and not have to stand up,” Mr Maher said.