The Boathouse Group

What The Boathouse Group does

The Boathouse Group is a privately held Australian hospitality group founded in 2008 in Palm Beach, New South Wales. The company operates 12 waterfront venues across three NSW regions — Sydney's Northern Beaches, the Central Coast, and the South Coast (including Wollongong) — and is family-owned by brothers Ben and Jono Isaac. The group sits under Palm Group Holdings Pty Ltd (ACN 534 035 608), which oversees nine wholly-owned subsidiaries, and employs 650+ team members across its operations.

The group's revenue is diversified across six hospitality and lifestyle verticals: food and beverage service across its restaurants and bars, accommodation, events and weddings, homewares retail through The Boathouse Home, gift cards via its Wrapped platform, and ferry transport via Boathouse Ferry Co. (launched November 2021). Operating technology consists of industry-standard hospitality SaaS — SevenRooms for reservations and guest data, a direct online booking engine for accommodation, and the Wrapped gift card platform — rather than proprietary technology. Set-menu pricing of approximately A$70-90 per person for groups and A$90 at Manly Pavilion signals a premium positioning.

The customer base is primarily consumer-facing (diners, wedding clients, hotel guests) with selected corporate and event partnerships including Chandon, Moet Hennessy, Mecca, GWS GIANTS, and Harper's Bazaar. The business model combines premium waterfront real estate, lifestyle brand positioning, and cross-vertical monetization under a unified Boathouse brand. The company has scaled from a single Palm Beach venue to a multi-region hospitality platform over 16 years.

Name

The Boathouse Group

Legal name

Palm Group Holdings Pty Ltd

Website

http://www.theboathousegroup.com.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

2008

Operating status

Operating

Short description

The Boathouse is a group of unique and iconic hospitality venues located at beautiful waterside locations around Sydney, Australia.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Hospitality Services

NAICS

Full-Service Restaurants (722511), Hotels (except Casino Hotels) and Motels (72111), Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation, Water (48721), Food Services and Drinking Places (722)

SIC

Retail-Eating & Drinking Places (5810), Hotels & Motels (7011), Water Transportation (4400), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Marina & Waterfront Full-Service Hotels (THAGAAAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Hotel & Resort Restaurants (THAFACAH), Luxury Beachfront & Waterfront Villas (THAMAEAE), Sightseeing & Scenic Boat Tours (Harbor, Sunset, Dolphin/Whale Watching) (THAJAJAA), Rooftop Bars & Beach/Pool Bars (THAFAEAJ)

Keywords

• Waterside hospitality venues
• Restaurant dining services
• Boutique accommodation booking
• Wedding event hosting
• Coastal homewares retail

Headquarters

HQ city

Whale Beach

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices11 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Food and Beverage Sales: Revenue from dining services across 12 venues including cafes, restaurants, bars, and takeaway kiosks. Includes Allpress coffee service and seafood-focused menus.
2. Accommodation: Boutique accommodation at Barrenjoey House (7 guest rooms) and The Boathouse Hotel Patonga (3 apartments). Bookings via Book Direct Online platform.
3. Events and Weddings: Hosting of weddings, corporate events, private functions, and celebrations. Includes both cocktail and seated wedding styles at multiple venues.
4. Homewares Retail: Sale of Boathouse-inspired homewares including glassware, tableware, lighting, textiles, and furniture. Operates online store and in-venue retail.
5. Gift Cards: Boathouse Group gift cards redeemable for dining, homewares and accommodation.
6. Ferry Services: Boathouse Ferry Co. operating the Merinda II ferry between Palm Beach and Patonga, with chartered events available.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

The Boathouse Group operates a portfolio of 12 iconic waterside hospitality venues across NSW offering dining (breakfast, lunch, dinner, sunset drinks, takeaways), boutique accommodation, weddings and corporate/private event hosting, coastal homewares retail, gift cards, and a passenger ferry service connecting Palm Beach and Patonga. Venues include heritage-listed bars and bistros, beachfront cafes, a hotel, a Mexican taqueria, a golf-club bistro, a delicatessen, and an alfresco harbourside bar.

Product overview

The Boathouse Group operates a portfolio of 12 iconic waterside hospitality venues across Sydney's Northern Beaches, the NSW Central Coast, and the South Coast in North Wollongong. The portfolio comprises diverse venue formats including heritage-listed bars and bistros (Manly Pavilion), beachside cafés (The Boathouse Shelly Beach, The Boathouse Balmoral), restaurants with accommodation (Barrenjoey House), hotels (The Boathouse Hotel Patonga), Mexican dining (Las Palmas Manly), golf club venues (The Mona Social), and alfresco bars (The Espy Manly). Supporting services include the Boathouse Ferry Co. operating the 'Merinda II' ferry between Palm Beach and Patonga, comprehensive wedding and events planning, corporate event hosting, and The Boathouse Home retail homewares line. The group also offers gift cards redeemable across all venues for dining, accommodation, and retail purchases. Dining concepts range from Mediterranean-inspired cuisine at Manly Pavilion to South-East Asian fusion at Balmoral, with additional Mexican, seafood-focused, and casual café offerings throughout the portfolio.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Manly Pavilion: Heritage listed bar and bistro with unobstructed views over Manly Cove and Sydney Harbour, offering Mediterranean-inspired dining and extensive cocktail list
• Barrenjoey House
• The Boathouse Hotel Patonga
• The Boathouse Shelly Beach
• The Mona Social
• Las Palmas Manly
• The Boathouse Balmoral
• The Boathouse North Wollongong
• The Corner
• The Espy Manly

Products and services

• Manly Pavilion Heritage-listed bar and bistro with unobstructed views over Manly Cove and Sydney Harbour, offering Mediterranean-inspired dining, an extensive cocktail list, and a dedicated events space called The Cove on the lower level. Targeted at diners, event hosts, and corporate clients.
• Barrenjoey House Restaurant, bar, and guest house located in Palm Beach with over 100 years of history, offering seven boutique guest rooms with Pittwater or garden views combined with restaurant and bar service. Targeted at diners, accommodation guests, and event hosts.
• The Boathouse Hotel Patonga Iconic waterside venue on the NSW Central Coast offering casual seafood-driven menu, tap beer, fresh cocktails, and three family-friendly apartments for accommodation. Accessible via Boathouse ferry from Palm Beach.
• The Boathouse Shelly Beach Café, bar, and events venue set on the only west-facing beach on the East Coast of Australia in Manly, open from 7am daily with no reservations required for the café.
• The Mona Social Bar and bistro located on the top level of Mona Vale Golf Club, featuring a spacious relaxed bar with snacks, tap beers, live sports viewing, pool tables, and a welcoming bistro dining room.
• Las Palmas Manly Vibrant Mexican garden bar and taqueria located in West Esplanade, Manly, offering tacos, margaritas, and outdoor dining atmosphere.
• The Boathouse Balmoral Waterside café and bar venue set right on Balmoral water, featuring Boathouse classics with a South-East Asian twist, open daily from 7am with dinner service Fridays and Saturdays.
• The Boathouse North Wollongong Bar and bistro on the NSW South Coast set on the sand overlooking the Pacific Ocean, offering freshest coastal dishes using local produce with views across North Wollongong Beach.
• The Corner Delicatessen, providore, wine bar, and dining room located at Palm Beach, with seasonal offerings forthcoming.
• The Espy Manly Alfresco bar located next to Manly Pavilion at the old aquarium site, serving seaside classics, pizza, drinks, and sunshine with views of ferries passing and beach activities.
• Boathouse Ferry Co. Fifty-foot timber passenger ferry named 'Merinda II', built by Norman Wright and Sons in 1983, operated by Boathouse Group since November 2021. Connects Palm Beach to Patonga and is available for chartered events.
• Wedding, Events, and Corporate Functions Full-service event planning across multiple venues covering weddings (ceremonies, receptions, engagements, bridal showers, hens parties), corporate events (cocktail parties, conferences, product launches, EOFY parties, charity functions, workshops, meetings), and private celebrations (birthdays, anniversaries, baby showers). Trusted by Chandon, Moet Hennessy, GWS Giants, Mecca, and Harper's Bazaar. A dedicated events team provides styling, planning, and coordination.
• The Boathouse Home Australian homewares retail store featuring coastal-inspired pieces including glassware, jugs, tableware, lighting, textiles, furniture, and decor. Products are available online via theboathousehome.com.au and in select Boathouse venues.
• Boathouse Group Gift Cards Boathouse Group gift cards redeemable for dining, homewares, and accommodation across all venues. Sold online through the Wrapped Gift Cards platform.
• Boutique Accommodation Boutique waterside accommodation at Barrenjoey House (seven guest rooms including Pittwater Rooms, Garden Rooms, and Loft Room) and The Boathouse Hotel Patonga (three apartments with bay views). Bookings are taken via the Book Direct Online platform and direct website.

Named customers5 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Harper's BazaarminorOthersLuxury fashion magazine that has conducted brand activations and photoshoots at The Boathouse Shelly Beach.
• SevenRoomscoreTechnology or IntegrationOnline reservation platform used across all Boathouse venues for restaurant table bookings and group reservations.
• Book Direct OnlinecoreTechnology or IntegrationBooking platform used for accommodation reservations at Barrenjoey House and The Boathouse Hotel Patonga.
• AllpressminorOthersCoffee supplier providing Allpress coffee for venue operations.
• Norman Wright & SonsminorOthersShip builder who constructed the Merinda II ferry in 1983, now operated by Boathouse Ferry Co.
• Mona Vale Golf ClubcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Mona Vale Golf Club to operate The Mona Social bar and bistro on the top level of the golf club.
• ChandonminorOthersLuxury champagne brand that has held corporate events at Manly Pavilion.
• MeccaminorOthersAustralian beauty retailer that hosted a PR event at Rose Bay venue.
• Moet HennessyminorOthersLuxury goods conglomerate that has held corporate events and gala dinners at Boathouse venues.
• GWS GIANTSminorOthersAFL sports team that has hosted corporate events at Boathouse venues.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Merivale: Justin Hemmes–led Sydney hospitality group operating 80+ venues across bars, restaurants, hotels and event spaces. Directly comparable as a multi-format, premium waterside Australian hospitality operator with integrated events and accommodation.
• Solotel: Multi-venue Sydney/NSW hospitality group founded by Bruce Solomon and family, operating premium bars, bistros, pubs and accommodation. Comparable in scale, family ownership, and mixed venue formats across Sydney waterside locations.
• Applejack Hospitality: NSW-owned hospitality group operating a portfolio of beachside and urban restaurants, cafes, bars and hotels (e.g., Bondi Beach Club, Hotel Ravesis). Directly comparable as a multi-venue Australian hospitality operator focused on coastal dining and accommodations.
• The Grounds of Alexandria: Iconic Sydney destination venue combining cafe, restaurant, bar, florist and events spaces. Highly comparable as a single flagship destination brand with strong events, weddings and lifestyle retail monetization that has since extended to multiple locations.
• Three Blue Ducks: Multi-location Australian coastal hospitality brand with venues across NSW, Queensland and Victoria including Bronte, Byron Bay and W Brisbane. Comparable as a lifestyle hospitality brand operating beachside cafes, restaurants, events and accommodations under a single brand system.
• Doltone House: Heritage Sydney events and weddings venue group with flagship waterfront locations. Comparable as a high-end NSW events-led hospitality operator with strong wedding and corporate function books, often competing for the same high-value event customers.
• Howard Smith Wharves: Brisbane riverfront precinct operated by Howard Smith Group featuring bars, restaurants, event spaces and breweries beneath the Story Bridge. Directly comparable as a multi-operator waterside hospitality and events precinct, though in Queensland rather than NSW.

Broad incumbents

• Crystalbrook Collection: Larger Australian hotel and resort operator (Bailey, Riley, Albion, Superyacht Marina) with in-house F&B, events and residencies across Cairns, Sydney, Byron Bay and beyond. Comparable as an upscale Australian hospitality owner/operator but with broader geographic and asset-base scale.
• TFE Hotels (Toga Far East Hotels): Australian hotel group operating brands including Adina, Vibe, Travelodge and Hotel Bank. Comparable as a portfolio operator of F&B-anchored hotels in Australia; broader and more lodging-centric than The Boathouse but useful as a public-mark reference for Australian hospitality valuations.

Emerging players

• Skimstone Hospitality (formerly Ponyfish Group): Smaller Sydney-based hospitality operator behind venues including Ponyfish and a small portfolio of waterside cafes. Comparable in coastal Sydney hospitality positioning and family/operator-led vibe, but at materially smaller scale than The Boathouse Group.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/theboathousebalmoral
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-boathouse-group

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Boathouse Group