Newy 87.8 FM – Merewether Surfhouse has been sold to a group led by hotelier Ben May, with the landmark venue to close in February 2027 for a major renovation before reopening as Merewether Pavilion in mid-to-late 2027.
The three-level venue at 5 Henderson Parade, rebuilt in 2010 opposite Merewether Beach, was sold for a reported price of about $27 million, though the figure has not been confirmed.
The sale followed an international expressions-of-interest campaign that closed on 20 August, handled by HTL Property's Andrew Jolliffe and Dan Dragicevich. The vendors were a consortium of hospitality investors including Tony Green, John Tierney and Mark Swadling.
New owners Ben May and Rob Domjen take over operations in October 2026. The venue will trade largely as it does now through summer, with only minor changes to food, beverage, styling and programming planned before the major works begin.
The Tropic dining concept from May's Burleigh Pavilion on the Gold Coast is confirmed as part of the new food-and-beverage offering, though the full vision, renovation details and collaborators are yet to be revealed.
May's existing venues include Burleigh Pavilion and The Tropic on the Gold Coast, as well as the recently opened Terrigal Pavilion. He previously operated Manly Wharf.
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