AFL players’ hospitality group takes over Spotswood Hotel

The Mona Castle Group, led by former Western Bulldogs Lukas Webb (right) and which includes vice-captain Tom Liberatore (left) among its backers, has bought the Spotswood Hotel. Pictures: Mark Stewart, Wayne Ludbey.

A hospitality group which counts several past and present Western Bulldogs as investors has bought the historic Spotswood Hotel.

The Mona Castle Group led by ex-Bulldog Lukas Webb, former Footscray VFL player Bradley Olsson and their mate Nicholas Schultze has purchased the venue at 62 Hudsons Rd, Spotswood.

The group’s backers include Western Bulldogs vice-captain Tom Liberatore and former full-forward Jack Redpath.

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A 2023 article on the official Western Bulldogs website named Caleb Daniel, who now plays for North Melbourne, and Lin Jong, a former Bulldog, as among the group’s other investors.

Commercial real estate agency JLL senior vice president Will Connolly said the Spotswood Hotel’s sales price was undisclosed, with the off-market deal inked earlier this week after months of negotiations.

Lukas Webb celebrates a goal during a match between the Western Bulldogs and Essendon at Etihad Stadium in 2017. Picture: Michael Klein.

The Spotswood Hotel was built in 1888. Picture: Eugene Hyland.

Mona Castle Group also owns The Ascot Vale Hotel and The Mona Castle Hotel in Seddon, near Footscray.

It bought the Spotswood pub from Royal Melbourne Hotel director Nick Grigoriadis.

“The Mona Castle group showed significant interest in the venue, given they have surrounding hotels in that general western area,” Mr Connolly said.

He added that the Spotswood Hotel, which features a beer garden, bistro and restaurant space, had undergone a significant ground floor refurbishment within the past five years.

Werribee’s Isaac Conway and Footscray’s Bradley Olsson tangle at a VFL football game in 2016. Picture: Mark Wilson.

The Mona Castle Hotel in Austin St, Seddon, is also owned by the Mona Castle Group. Picture: Fiona Byrne.

“The Mona Castle group intends to continue on with those refurbishments and make their own changes to suit their style of operation,” he said.

Mr Connolly said the Spotswood Hotel was one of a better-known Melbourne hotels to have sold this year along with Fitzroy’s Napier Hotel which fetched circa-$10m in August, a sale which he also negotiated.

Tom Liberatore of the Bulldogs is carried off the ground by teammates Jason Johannisen and Marcus Bontempelli following his 250th AFL game in 2025’s round 17. Picture: Mark Stewart.

He is expecting the momentum behind such sales to continue and give other potential hotel buyers confidence, into 2026.

“There’s a run of transactions now that’s probably allowing the market to identify that appetite out there and the willingness to transact is certainly building,” Mr Connolly said.

According to the Victorian Heritage Council, the Spotswood Hotel was built in 1888.

It was formerly known as the Spottiswoode Hotel and is significant for its association with the Spottiswoode family for whom the suburb of Spotswood was named.

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