The Waverley Council has submitted a proposal to restore and undertake heritage conversation works on the Bondi Pavilion in Bondi Beach.
The plan has been lodged in early April and it’s currently awaiting a decision. It replaces the controversial $38-million renovation project that was submitted and then withdrawn in 2018.
Locals opposed the first plan citing that the changes will over-commercialise Bondi Pavilion. The revised proposal, however, will cover the following restoration works:
- reinstatement of the original terracotta Spanish roof tiles
- improvement of the toilet facilities with showers, change areas and accessibility features
- restoration of the Gatehouse entrance
- installation of “shell space” for tenancies in the eastern wing
- installation of a tourism and welcome centre box
- division of the Bondi Story Room into three spaces
- addition of spaces at the art gallery
- revamping of the theatre seating and technology improvements
- renovation of the High Tide Room, Ocean and Seagull Room, and pottery studio
- landscaping of courtyards
- the building of new access roads
“It is the cultural and social heritage of the building that people mostly think about, but it also has architectural merit as well,” Mayor John Wakefield said in the press.
“[But] it’s worn out now, there’s no doubt about it, particularly the toilet and showering facilities,” he added.
Restoration work on the Bondi Pavilion is expected to start in February 2020 and the plan is currently on public exhibition. To track the progress of the restoration project, check the Waverley council DA tracking tool using Reference Number DA-105/2019.
This project is part of Waverley Council’s plans to improve Bondi Beach’s recreation and entertainment centre in the next four years so that future generations can still benefit from the facilities.
