The Shire of Murray has received a massive accolade at the 2025 National Awards for Local Government in Canberra.
They took out the Regional Growth category for the redevelopment of the Exchange Hotel in Pinjarra, beating out 23 other projects from across the country.
The Awards are the peak awards for the local government sector and showcase inspirational projects being delivered in communities across Australia.
Shire President Douglas McLarty said he was thrilled for the Shire to receive such recognition.
“At the Shire of Murry, we think big. We have bold ideas and our people deliver exceptional outcomes because of it. The Exchange Hotel, Pinjarra is just one example and it’s a delight to have this recognised on the national stage,” President McLarty said.
The highly anticipated Exchange Hotel redevelopment was a decade-long project, with the venue welcoming its first customers in September 2024.
The building is one of Peel’s oldest, established about 150 years ago.
Today, the venue combines the best of modern architecture with Pinjarra’s local heritage.
“Since reopening, the Hotel has operated at full capacity, become one of Pinjarra CBD’s largest employers and provided increasingly diverse job opportunities,” Mr McLarty said.
“In its first month, the Hotel served 15,000 pints of beer, 13,600 meals, employed 69 staff (40FTE equivalent), and welcomed 20,000 visitors. Local businesses benefit from this surge in activity, with the hotel contributing directly and indirectly to economic growth.”
The Exchange Hotel, Pinjarra project was co-funded by the Shire of Murray, the Hotel’s operators and the Federal Government’s Building Better Regions Fund.
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