Sydney bar tsar Justin Hemmes unveils retro hotel makeover in small NSW coastal town

The Hemmes-ification of Narooma is continuing with Sydney bar tsar Justin Hemmes on Friday officially re-opening The Whale hotel in his adopted South Coast home away from home.

Set high in the town with views across the Wagonga Inlet, the hotel underwent a three-year renovation, much of which was done by Canberra tradies.

The 18-room boutique hotel was "reimagined by the Merivale Design Studio, with a nod to 1970s coastal design and paired with contemporary finishes".

Justin Hemmes bought his own waterfront property in Narooma in 2015 for his own South Coast getaways and has been gradually buying up property in the town since.

His Merivale hospitality company also owns Quarterdeck, Lynch's Hotel, The Inlet and The Surf Park in Narooma.

"We have a few things going on in Narooma. I've been visiting here most weekends for many years and our involvement in the area has grown during that time," Hemmes said.

"I would like to think that we will continue to invest in and promote Narooma. It really is a very special place."

Hemmes says The Whale is "as much about showcasing Narooma as it is about creating a memorable guest experience".

"This is our first resort-style accommodation that we've done at Merivale, and it's a very different skill to creating a hospitality venue because there are so many more layers to it. You need to cover the 24/7 experience of the guest and there are a lot of complexities to get it right," he said.

"With The Whale, we wanted to create something special where people can come and experience the beauty of Narooma and everything it has to offer, in a beautiful setting with great food, staff and service. But the hero is Narooma."

Hemmes gave a shoutout to Canberra trades who were involved in the project.

"We've had huge local support, including many trades and suppliers from Canberra. I don't want to name some and miss a couple, so I'll just say that all who we worked with did an incredible job and it was a pleasure to work with them," he said.

The Whale includes Dan Hong's Queen Chow modern Cantonese restaurant, which returns with "refreshed interiors and menu".

Hotel facilities also include wellness musts including a traditional sauna, ice bath, heated magnesium pool and pickleball court.

The Whale general manager Erin Proud said the hotel was about plugging into the spirit of Narooma.

"Narooma has a real sense of character and authenticity that's becoming harder to find and that's something we wanted to protect," she said.

"The Whale is about creating a place where people can properly switch off, while still feeling connected to the town and community around them."

So is Hemmes worried about too many people discovering the secret of Narooma, with its turquoise waters, lazy seals and old-school feel?

"Never!" he said. "The region is magnificent with so much for everyone to enjoy, there's no secret about that. I'll always sing Narooma's praises and plan to support the area and its people through our venues and businesses for many years to come."