mmg.com.au

The hotel was stripped out before Christmas, with the bar, doors and eaves among the items removed from the building.

Last week, work started on demolishing the parts of the building that were changing — with several walls earmarked to be torn down.

Most of the floor has already been removed.

American Hotel part-owner Dean Oberin expects the demolition work — stage one of the project — to last for another four to five weeks.

As part of the demolition, beams are also being put into place to secure the building.

Work is then expected to start on securing footings and the flooring of the venue, before new parts of the hotel are built, such as a new kitchen and toilets, gaming area and outside courtyard.

The interior design plans and the kitchen designs have also been finalised.

Once finished, the hotel will have a floor space of 862m2 and will include an upstairs and downstairs section.

The ground floor will include a public bar and lounge bar, which will face onto a north-facing courtyard and alfresco area. It will also have a poker machine area.

Upstairs will be a new bar and lounge area, with access onto an outside deck area.

A caretaker’s residence is also part of the upstairs design.

Mr Oberin said, once completed, the hotel would include 10 or 12 different areas for people to use.

As the owners, Mr Oberin said he and his father Don had tried to incorporate parts of the history of the American Hotel in the new design, including some of the old fireplaces, as well as historical pieces — like names etched in concrete by previous owners that had been found behind the plaster walls.

Many of the bricks from demolished walls will also be re-used in new feature work at the hotel.

Mr Oberin said he was pleased with the progress so far and that the work was on track for the hotel to open in August.