AFTER completing his magnum opus in 2010 with the $33 million redevelopment of Hotel Charles in Launceston, Josef Chromy could be forgiven for wanting to put his feet up.
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However, the 82-year-old shows no sign of slowing down as he tours his latest project, the redevelopment of the Penny Royal World, and details the JAC Group's vision to transform the now derelict site into a showcase for Tasmania's food and beverages.
Mr Chromy escaped war-torn Czechoslovakia as a 19-year-old with nothing but the clothes on his back after Nazi and Soviet occupation.
The master butcher made his way to Tasmania where he built Blue Ribbon Meats into one of Tasmania's leading brands, using the money from floating the company on the Australian Stock Exchange in 1993 to invest in Tasmania's burgeoning wine industry.
Mr Chromy's work ethic was - and still is - legendary and he takes great pride in showing off his latest acquisition and the plans for its rejuvenation.
"I'm lucky to continue to do something that's good for Tasmania and good for me," Mr Chromy says.
"All the time I'm dreaming and I'm lucky the dreams come true. Like the Charles, that was my dream."
The JAC Group bought the Penny Royal site, which opened in stages between 1972 and 1979 and closed in July 2006, for more than $4 million and plans a three-stage, multi- million dollar redevelopment.
Executive chairman Peter Dixon said the site was great value for money and was at the doorstop of Launceston's most iconic attraction, the Gorge.
"I said to Joe, `I think we should be looking at this Penny Royal, it's a lot of bang for your buck', and when we went down and had a look we recognised there is an awful lot of property and scope," Mr Dixon said.
"The price we paid for it leaves us able to spend money and take it to another level.
"We have to work with the council for something special for Launceston," Mr Chromy says.
"(It is) too early to decide what to do.
"You have to go step by step to get your dream, all the time learning."
One thing for certain is the scale of the redevelopment, particularly in the attractions area, which is run down and overgrown.
"I remember taking my children down there on the little boats and I was visibly shocked when I walked in," Mr Dixon says.
"It's just like something that's been closed for 100 hundred years.
"We saw in the Penny Royal a chance to pick up a property with a significant number of rooms, it's a one-off, it's quite a unique building, it will never be replaced and importantly is that position; it's almost close to perfect sitting right there on the edge of the Gorge.
"It's really ready for some enhancement and development, fortunately we are able to work with a very good operator (Leisure Inn) and that took care of the operational side and we can do what we do best, which is the property development.
"It's not going to be the same complexity as The Charles, that was a very major thing, but this is more intricate because it's higgledy-piggledy, but that's part of the charm too."
Plans are in their infancy but will include extending the restaurant at the watermill tavern to include an indoor/outdoor space, revamping the apartments and finally modernising and restoring the attractions area.
"It will be a lot easier job than the Charles renovation was, a bit more quirky so we will have to have our best lateral thinking going, so people walk in and go `wow', it can't be a kitschy thing."
Mr Chromy has several ideas for the attractions area already, including bringing the entrance to ground level and reclaiming part of the area that previously held water to have a grassed area.
He is always thinking about the design and layout of the redevelopment, how the trucks will need to enter to offload goods, how the cool areas below ground would be a great place to store whisky.
"Joe is an extremely practical thinker and you have to think about all the logistics of the movement of goods in and out and people," Mr Dixon says.
"He has a very good feeling of what looks good, and what will work and what won't work, and there is no substitute for gut feeling on these things.
"We will be putting a lot of that into it because that's what we do for every project."
Mr Chromy is clearly proud to show off the purchase, tackling the numerous stairs and opening locked doors to reveal hidden areas.
He unlocks a door and enters a dark room.
"I should have brought a torch," he says.
As your eyes adjust, you can see the cavernous space with thick exposed beams crossing the roof.
"We think this will be good room for a wedding or party or function," Mr Chromy says.
"We will need to have all-sized function rooms," Mr Dixon says.
Mr Chromy heads down into the old jail that used to sit in the middle of the water.
"If you were naughty, you'd go and live in there," he jokes about the cells that house pirate-themed memorabilia.
The old manager's apartment is built into the rock face, which comes into the lounge room.
Mr Chromy pulls back a curtain to reveal the view over Kings Bridge and across to the Seaport.
"Not bad, not bad," he smiles and gives a thumbs up.
With proposed developments for North Bank and Errol Stewart's silos, the whole area is set to receive a boost.
"It's so close to the park and other developments so it's bound to work, so I'm sure it will get good local support," Mr Dixon says.
"If people go for a wander up the Gorge, people can stop for a drink and the kids can have an icecream or chocolate.
"With our involvement here in the wine industry, and Joe has a great knowledge of food himself, we feel we have the expertise in the group to do it to the right level."
