Our story

From Whyalla, 1942, to the fourth generation

1. Founding and partnerships

2. 1942

   The first hotel

   Seymour and Dossie Matthews buy their first hotel in Whyalla, the Bay View, with Tom Pierce, forming Pierce Matthews Hotels Pty Ltd.

3. 1956

   Partners with Molony’s Hotels

   Pierce Matthews Hotels enters partnership with Edward Molony’s hotels. The South Eastern Hotel, Mount Gambier, joins the group.

4. 1957

   Seven hotels in a year

   Seven hotels are added in a single year, including the Mount Gambier Hotel.

5. 1958

   Park Hotel

   The Park Hotel, Mount Gambier, joins the group.

6. 1960

   Eyre Hotel

   The Eyre Hotel in Whyalla joins. It is still in the family today.

7. 1961

   Bill Carey joins

   Bill Carey, Edward Molony’s nephew, joins the partnership.

8. Back to the family

9. 1980s

   Partnerships end

   Partnerships with the Pierce (1980s), Carey (1986) and Molony (1988) families come to an end.

10. 1988

    100% Matthews again

    Full ownership of Matthews Hotels Pty Ltd returns to Seymour, Dossie and their sons Tony and Guy.

11. 1991

    The second generation

    Seymour passes. Full ownership reverts to Tony and Guy Matthews.

12. A modern company

13. 2009

    Hall of Fame

    Dossie passes, and is inducted into the Australian Hotels Association (SA) Hall of Fame.

14. 2011

    National honour

    Tony and Guy are inducted into the Australian Hotels Association National Hall of Fame.

15. 2017

    Matthews Hospitality

    Matthews Hotels Pty Ltd rebrands as Matthews Hospitality and appoints its first independent CEO.

16. 2018

    Governance

    The Matthews Family Constitution is agreed and an inaugural Business Board established.

17. The next generations

18. 2019

    Tony Matthews passes

19. 2020

    The third generation

    The partnership with Guy Matthews’ family ends. Tony’s children Lisa, Scott and Ward take full ownership, and the first independent Directors join the Board.

20. 2022

    Eighty years

    Ward Matthews passes. The group marks its 80th anniversary.

21. 2023

    Hall of Fame

    Lisa is inducted into the Australian Hotels Association (SA) Hall of Fame.

22. 2026

    The fourth generation

    Scott’s partnership ends. Lisa and her sons Max and Tom Vasileff take full ownership of Matthews Hospitality.

Gold marks a venue or owner of today

Hotels held, 1942 – 2026

38 hotels across South Australia

• Owned today
• Sold

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