BENDIGO'S historic Shamrock Hotel has been sold for more than $9 million.It will be a homecoming to Bendigo after some 25 years for new owner, Fitzroy based-accountant Jim Hogan, whose father Kevin used to run the Lakeview Hotel. Mr Hogan is in the final stages of agreeing the deal with present owner Bob Vagg and settlement is expected in the next couple of months.The Advertiser understands the purchase price is more than $9 million, but neither Mr Hogan nor Mr Vagg would confirm this. The present Shamrock Hotel was built in the 1890s to replace an earlier pub of the same name and its distinctive 19th century architecture was designed to complement the other buildings in Pall Mall.``I'm looking forward to running the place - every publican would love to run an iconic hotel like this,'' Mr Hogan said yesterday. He said he intended to retain Shamrock staff and expand the operation, building an upmarket restaurant on the first floor to take advantage of the hotel's ornate balcony.Mr Hogan's plans also include a public bar with TAB and an expanded cafe and bistro. ``I think (the Shamrock) will be in very good hands and I'm very happy that it's going an established and enthusiastic young businessman like Jim,'' Mr Vagg said yesterday.``He's a great guy and he'll be wonderful for Bendigo.'' After running the Bendigo landmark for 14 years, Mr Vagg said he and wife, Denyse, would be pursuing other interests.The couple have been in the hotel business in Victoria for 40 years and this is the second Shamrock Hotel they have been involved with. They operated the Shamrock Hotel in Echuca during the 1970s and 1980s.``We have enjoyed Bendigo and it's a great place, but it's time to do something new,'' Mr Vagg said.Mr Hogan attended Marist Brothers College, now part of Catholic College, and studied for his accounting degree at Bendigo Institute of Technology, now La Trobe University. He also owns Hogan's Cafe Bar and Restaurant in Wallan and the Romsey Hotel.