Federal Group
Encyclopedia
Tasmania
Tasmania is an Australian island and state. It is south of the continent, separated by Bass Strait. The state includes the island of Tasmania—the 26th largest island in the world—and the surrounding islands. The state has a population of 507,626 , of whom almost half reside in the greater Hobart...
. It is also known as either Federal Hotels, or Federal Hotels and Resorts on websites.
History
Established in 1888, the Federal Group lay claim to being Australia's oldest, and the worlds third oldest hotel chain.The Federal Group is currently owned and operated by the Farrell Family, consisting of Greg Farrell (Managing Director), John Farrell (Director of Business Development), Julia Farrell (Director of Interior Design), Deborah Lee (Board Member, [nee Farrell]) and Jane Farrell (Board Member).
Its main property historically was the Wrest Point Hotel Casino
Wrest Point Hotel Casino
The Wrest Point Hotel Casino was Australia's first legal casino, opening in the suburb of Sandy Bay in Hobart, Tasmania, on 10 February 1973.-History:...
- and over time it has developed further properties in Tasmania. In the late 1990s and early 2000s the company has increased a significant presence on the West Coast
West Coast, Tasmania
The West Coast of Tasmania is the part of the state that is strongly associated with wilderness, mining and tourism, rough country and isolation...
of Tasmania
Tasmania
Tasmania is an Australian island and state. It is south of the continent, separated by Bass Strait. The state includes the island of Tasmania—the 26th largest island in the world—and the surrounding islands. The state has a population of 507,626 , of whom almost half reside in the greater Hobart...
and is the operator of the West Coast Wilderness Railway
West Coast Wilderness Railway
The West Coast Wilderness Railway, Tasmania is a reconstruction of the Mount Lyell Mining and Railway Company railway between Queenstown and Regatta Point...
which is the rebuilt Mount Lyell Mining and Railway Company
Mount Lyell Mining and Railway Company
Mount Lyell Mining and Railway Company was a Tasmanian mining company formed on the 29 March 1893, most commonly referred to as Mount Lyell. Mount Lyell was the dominant copper mining company of the West Coast from 1893 to 1994, and was based in Queenstown, Tasmania.Following consolidation of...
railway line. During the early 2000's to the end of the noughties, other properties acquired included Freycinet Lodge, Cradle Mountain Chateau, The Henry Jones Art Hotel, and the 9/11 Bottle Shop chain.
Division of Tourism
After the acquisition of Freycinet Lodge and Cradle Mountain Chateau, the groups main tourism destinations (Freycinet Lodge, Cradle Mountain Chateau, and The Strahan Village) and their associated activities and attractions were marketed under the Pure Tasmania brand (Falling under the Federal Group Division of Tourism). In December 2007 the group acquired The Henry Jones Art Hotel in Hobart, and have recently opened the opulent Saffire Freycinet Sanctuary in mid 2010. Both these properties operate under the Pure Tasmania banner. Future development plans include a resort in Port Arthur.Division of Entertainment & Gaming
Tasmania's second referendumTasmanian casino referendum, 1968
The Tasmanian casino referendum was a one-question referendum held on 14 December 1968, which concerned the granting of Australia's first casino licence to the Federal Group to operate the Wrest Point Hotel Casino in Sandy Bay.-Background:...
since formation of the state was in 1968 about the establishment of the Wrest Point Casino. The Premier Eric Reece
Eric Reece
Eric Elliott Reece, AC was Premier of Tasmania on two occasions: from 26 August 1958 to 26 May 1969, and from 3 May 1972 to 31 March 1975.-Biography:...
was unable to sustain a clear majority in cabinet and consequently a referendum as taken on the issue of gambling in the state. The no vote of 35% was unable to meet the yes vote of 58%. As a result Tasmania was the first state in Australia to operate a casino.
The Federal Group runs both Tasmanian casino
Casino
In modern English, a casino is a facility which houses and accommodates certain types of gambling activities. Casinos are most commonly built near or combined with hotels, restaurants, retail shopping, cruise ships or other tourist attractions...
s:
- Wrest Point Hotel CasinoWrest Point Hotel CasinoThe Wrest Point Hotel Casino was Australia's first legal casino, opening in the suburb of Sandy Bay in Hobart, Tasmania, on 10 February 1973.-History:...
in Sandy BaySandy Bay, TasmaniaSandy Bay is a suburb of the city of Hobart, Tasmania, Australia, located immediately south of the central business district.The suburb is home to many large homes, and adjoins the waterfront Salamanca area and Battery Point. The suburb is known as one of the city's prestigious areas...
, HobartHobartHobart is the state capital and most populous city of the Australian island state of Tasmania. Founded in 1804 as a penal colony,Hobart is Australia's second oldest capital city after Sydney. In 2009, the city had a greater area population of approximately 212,019. A resident of Hobart is known as...
- this was the first Casino in the southern hemisphere. There is 3 to 5 star accommodation available at Wrest Point. The Tower accommodation has the best views of the Hobart landscape. The Revolving Restaurant and Pier One Restaurant are located at Wrest Point. There are three large Poker machine floors in the casino, and several large convention centres. - Country Club CasinoCountry Club CasinoCountry Club Tasmania is a casino in Launceston, Tasmania and is used for a variety of local events and is home to a 18 hole golf course. Targa Tasmania uses the casino as a starting point for the race....
in ProspectProspect, TasmaniaProspect is a small suburb of Launceston.The Mount Pleasant Laboratories are Tasmanian government laboratories located in Prospect and include:* Diagnostic Services - Researching the Tasmanian Devil Facial Tumor Disease* Animal Health Laboratory...
, LauncestonLaunceston, TasmaniaLaunceston is a city in the north of the state of Tasmania, Australia at the junction of the North Esk and South Esk rivers where they become the Tamar River. Launceston is the second largest city in Tasmania after the state capital Hobart...
- Golf course and small casino.
Additionally the group operates a range of pubs and clubs under the Vantage Group banner, and the successful 9/11 Bottleshop chain. The Federal Group has the current license to operate poker machines in Tasmania. These include all machines located in Federal owed hotels and casinos, and the popular Oasis poker machines (located in pubs and bars). There was a deal made with the Tasmanian Government
Government of Tasmania
The form of the Government of Tasmania is prescribed in its Constitution, which dates from 1856, although it has been amended many times since then...
to allow this, in which the Tasmanian Government collects a higher tax on these machines, and for the Federal Group to contribute to the Tasmanian economy via investments in tourism properties. The group also Operates Tas Keno - this is now networked into pubs
Public house
A public house, informally known as a pub, is a drinking establishment fundamental to the culture of Britain, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand. There are approximately 53,500 public houses in the United Kingdom. This number has been declining every year, so that nearly half of the smaller...
and clubs all over Tasmania and is operated electronically.
Tourist accommodation
- Strahan Village (StrahanStrahan, Tasmania-See also:* Convicts on the West Coast of Tasmania* Macquarie Harbour* Railways on the West Coast of Tasmania* West Coast Piners-Further reading:* *...
, West coastWest Coast, TasmaniaThe West Coast of Tasmania is the part of the state that is strongly associated with wilderness, mining and tourism, rough country and isolation...
) - Freycinet Lodge (Coles BayColes Bay, TasmaniaColes Bay, the hub of Tourism on Tasmania's east coast, is an Australian town on the east Coast of Tasmania located 192 km north east of Hobart and 209 km south east of Launceston, being the main entrance point for visitors to the Freycinet National Park...
, East coast) - Cradle Mountain Chateau (Cradle MountainCradle MountainCradle Mountain is a mountain in the Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park, Tasmania, Australia. Rising to 1,545 metres above sea level it is one of the principal tourist sites in Tasmania, owing to its natural beauty...
, Central HighlandsCentral Highlands (Tasmania)Central Highlands is a region in Tasmania where geographical and administrative boundaries closely coincide. It is also known as The Lake Country of Tasmania -Geographical region:...
) - Country Club Resort and Villas, Country Club Ave, Prospect ValeProspect Vale, TasmaniaProspect Vale is a small suburb of Greater Launceston and is within the Meander Valley Council's area.It contains two schools, Prospect High School and a private Catholic school, St. Patricks College....
. - Wrest Point Casino
- Gordon River Cruises, The Esplanade, Strahan.
- The Henry Jones Art Hotel
- Saffire Freycinet
- Port Arthur (Opening 2011?)
Experiences
- West Coast Wilderness RailwayWest Coast Wilderness RailwayThe West Coast Wilderness Railway, Tasmania is a reconstruction of the Mount Lyell Mining and Railway Company railway between Queenstown and Regatta Point...
between StrahanStrahan, Tasmania-See also:* Convicts on the West Coast of Tasmania* Macquarie Harbour* Railways on the West Coast of Tasmania* West Coast Piners-Further reading:* *...
and QueenstownQueenstown, TasmaniaQueenstown is a town in the West Coast region of the island of Tasmania. It is located in a valley on western slopes of Mount Owen on the West Coast Range.It had a population of 5,119 people . At the 2006 census, Queenstown had a population of 2,117....
on the West coastWest Coast, TasmaniaThe West Coast of Tasmania is the part of the state that is strongly associated with wilderness, mining and tourism, rough country and isolation...
was taken over after 2002. - Gordon River Cruises
"Signature Experiences"
- Piners & Miners (StrahanStrahan, Tasmania-See also:* Convicts on the West Coast of Tasmania* Macquarie Harbour* Railways on the West Coast of Tasmania* West Coast Piners-Further reading:* *...
West Coast) - Gordon River Paddle (StrahanStrahan, Tasmania-See also:* Convicts on the West Coast of Tasmania* Macquarie Harbour* Railways on the West Coast of Tasmania* West Coast Piners-Further reading:* *...
West Coast) - Wineglass to Wine Glass (Freycinet)