Batavia Motor Inne: New owner of derelict hotel controversial figure after site’s sale

Geraldton’s most prominent eyesore — the derelict Batavia Motor Inne — has finally been sold, with the new owners of the controversial site no stranger to scandal. The former hotel at 54 Fitzgerald Street has been sitting empty for more than a decade and has been subject to vandalism and become a base for squatters. RELATED NEWS The City of Greater Geraldton has launched two legal bids against the owners of the site, the now defunct Singaporean investment syndicate Batavia Village Pty Ltd, for failing to secure or demolish the building and for payment of outstanding rates. Quigley and Co Corporate Recovery and Insolvency Services specialist Peter Quigley said the property had been sold, but would not comment on the identity of the buyer or for how much it had been bought. City of Greater Geraldton Mayor Shane Van Styn said a notice of a transfer of ownership of the site to a company named 54 Fitzgerald Pty Ltd had been lodged with the council. The company is part-owned by Giuseppe “Joe” Scaffidi, an infamous property developer and the husband of disgraced ex-City of Perth Lord Mayor Lisa Scaffidi. In 1992 Joe Scaffidi demolished the facade of the historic Railway Hotel on Barrack Street, Perth despite the structure being heritage listed, causing him to become the first person to be prosecuted under the Heritage Act. Earlier this year, Mr and Mrs Scaffidi won a $1.7m-plus family battle linked to the Railway Hotel project. They fought off legal action started by Mr Scaffidi’s brother Gino over dealings dating back to before the death of their father Tony Scaffidi in 2004. Mrs Scaffidi, with the rest of the City of Perth council, was suspended as lord mayor in 2018 after more than 10 years in the job when the Corruption and Crime Commission found she failed to declare a $31,000 travel package to the 2008 Beijing Olympics from BHP, and other gifts from private companies which had dealings with the City of Perth. Other company directors of 54 Fitzgerald Pty Ltd are Anthony Scaffidi and Michael O’Sullivan. City CEO Ross McKim said settlement took place last week, which included the city being paid all outstanding rates and charges. He said city officers had made contact with the new owners and invited them to meet with the council to discuss their intentions for the site and community safety concerns.