Images: Provided.
A 1930s Naracoorte hotel has reopened after an $8 million restoration, with 23 boutique suites, new dining spaces and a huge indoor playground now sitting behind its restored Art Deco façade.
The Kincraig Hotel officially reopened on April 14 following an 18-month, multistage redevelopment, with the transformation introducing 23 boutique accommodation suites, multiple dining spaces, a new courtyard and a huge indoor playground for local families.
The Dean Group, which has operated Mount Gambier’s Macs Hotel since 2010, purchased the Kincraig Hotel in 2024.
“The opportunity… was a great prospect to bring our operational and hospitality experience to Naracoorte and offer quality local produce (both food and wine) and provide much needed accommodation for leisure and corporate travellers,” Dean Group operations manager Dion Di Vittorio told Glam Adelaide.
Central to the redevelopment was a desire to restore the Kincraig to its Art Deco roots, he said, with “custom carpeting, chandelier lighting, a rich colour palette and booth seating” featured throughout the venue.
“You will also notice historical prints of Naracoorte and the venue adorned on the walls of both the ground and first levels,” he added.
Downstairs, the Kincraig now has multiple dining areas catering for around 150 guests, with open dining spaces, fireplace seating and booths.
Di Vittorio said that the menu has a strong “focus on local regional suppliers, pub favourites and family friendly dining,” as well as a drinks list that “features both regional and international beer, wine and spirits, plus a large selection of delicious cocktails.”
For families, there is an extensive kids menu, but the biggest drawcard may be the new indoor outer-space-themed playground complete with a five-metre slide, rock climbing area and observation deck.
Outside, the courtyard has been designed as a more relaxed space for meals, cocktails and special occasions, with high bars, umbrellas, a grassed area and a custom-built LED butterfly swing.
Upstairs, 23 newly renovated Art Deco-inspired accommodation suites offer a significant upgrade to the traditional country pub stay.
The hotel is also positioning itself as a base for visitors wanting to explore the wider Limestone Coast, with Naracoorte’s World Heritage-listed caves, conservation parks, Coonawarra’s wine region and the coast all closeby.
Since reopening, the Kincraig says it has already seen a steady stream of visitors using the hotel as a base to explore the region, while local support has also exceeded expectations.
“Locals have enjoyed the fact that we have restored the hotel back to its art deco roots, created a new space for the community to enjoy as a dining, accommodation and meeting spot, created over 40 local jobs, and utilised local suppliers,” the group said.
“Foot traffic and support for the Kincraig reopening have exceeded our budgetary expectations and we’re thankful for the community supporting our investment in Naracoorte.”
For the owners, however, the project is about more than simply restoring an old building.
The Kincraig has long been part of life in Naracoorte, and the Dean Group says it sees itself as a custodian of that shared history, with a focus on supporting local people, businesses and sporting clubs.
“Our thoughtful restoration reflects this commitment – honouring the building’s history while restoring her to a standard she deserves,” Di Vittorio said.
“It is our goal for the new Kincraig to be a place the community can enjoy, feel proud of and connected to.”
Kincraig Hotel
Where: 158 Smith Street, Naracoorte
For more information, click here.
