Due-diligence matrix
Twenty-four questions the project knew it had to answer before anyone could responsibly buy a pub. Most were still open at the end.
- Original title
- Due Diligence Matrix
- Original date
- c. 18–20 May 2026
- Project phase
- Stage 1 — Gauging interest
- Purpose at the time
- The question grid the acquisition would have had to answer, by domain: what evidence, from whom, at what priority.
- Status at the time
- Framework document; most 'Critical' rows were still open when the campaign concluded.
- Source provenance
internal/strategy/due_diligence_matrix.md (private working corpus; unpublished, unchanged)- Publication treatment
- Substantially intact
- Derived / prepared by
- Claude (Fable 5) with Adrian Wedd, 18 August 2026
- Prepared
- 2026-08-18
- Human review
- Adrian Wedd — publication review completed 19 August 2026
- Published
- 2026-08-19
What was changed for publication Document begins
Due Diligence Matrix
Property and acquisition
| Question | Evidence needed | Who can answer | Priority |
|---|
| Is the current owner willing to sell? | Direct owner/agent confirmation | Steering group/legal rep | Critical |
| What is the likely purchase price? | Valuation/market appraisal | Valuer/agent | Critical |
| What is the building condition? | Building inspection | Building surveyor/inspector | Critical |
| Are there structural, fire, asbestos, accessibility, or services issues? | Specialist reports | Building/fire/accessibility consultants | Critical |
| What fixtures/equipment/licences are included? | Contract/vendor disclosure | Solicitor/vendor | High |
Legal and governance
| Question | Evidence needed | Who can answer | Priority |
|---|
| Distributing or non-distributing co-op? | Options paper | Solicitor/co-op adviser | Critical |
| What active membership rule is lawful and practical? | Draft rules/options | Solicitor/Registrar guidance | Critical |
| Can investor capital be raised, and on what terms? | Legal advice | Solicitor/accountant | Critical |
| What disclosure obligations apply? | Legal/ASIC advice | Solicitor/AFSL-aware adviser | Critical |
| How are worker/public/community/investor interests balanced? | Governance design | Governance architect/legal adviser | High |
Liquor, food, planning, operations
| Question | Evidence needed | Who can answer | Priority |
|---|
| Who can hold the liquor licence in Tasmania? | Licensing authority guidance | Liquor licensing adviser | Critical |
| Is existing licence transferable? | Licence details and transfer process | Licensing authority/current owner | Critical |
| What planning permits apply? | Council advice/planning certificate | Huon Valley Council/planner | High |
| What food safety registration is required? | Council/food authority advice | Council/food safety adviser | High |
| What insurance is required? | Broker quotes | Insurance broker | High |
Finance
| Question | Evidence needed | Who can answer | Priority |
|---|
| What is the total acquisition + launch capital requirement? | Valuation + capex + working capital model | Accountant/quantity surveyor | Critical |
| What revenue is realistic? | Comparable pub data/local demand | Hospitality accountant/publican | Critical |
| What staff model is viable? | Rostering and wage assumptions | Publican/accountant | Critical |
| What debt/equity/grant mix is possible? | Capital stack model | Finance adviser | High |
| What downside scenarios could kill the project? | Sensitivity model | Finance adviser | High |
Community demand
| Question | Evidence needed | Who can answer | Priority |
|---|
| How many locals support exploration? | EOI responses | Steering group | High |
| How many would become members if viable? | EOI responses, not commitments | Steering group | High |
| What concerns recur? | Qualitative feedback | Comms team | High |
| What skills/capacity exist locally? | Volunteer/skills register | Steering group | Medium |