Bondi Pavilion Restoration & Conservation Project

11 November 2019

ICONIC BONDI PAVILION: THE STORY SO FAR

As Waverley Council prepares for approval next month of the development application (DA) for the Bondi Pavilion Restoration & Conservation Project, we would like to update the community on how Council has progressed this much-anticipated project so far.

Following many rounds of community consultation, Council submitted the DA for the project on 3 April this year. The plans include:

• A larger space for the Pottery Studio, as well as a variation to the design of the kiln room to allow for a second kiln.
• Relocation of the Lifeguards Room on the Ground Floor to outside the Pavilion.
• Repositioning the 'Tourist Centre/Box Office' to the north of the Entrance Foyer.
• Indicating all commercial tenancies as large 'shell space' to allow for small or large tenancies as demand, structural and heritage considerations would allow.

Our exciting restoration is in the final stages of planning and in the interim, we have been busy completing maintenance and smaller-scale renovations at the Pavilion, including:

• Renovation of the public toilets
• Retiling the Gatehouse at the rear of the Pavilion to trial the tile colour and configuration for the whole Pavilion roof that will be done as part of the restoration project. The tiles are a nod to those used when the Pavilion was first built in 1928.
• Complete re-roofing of the High Tide room
• New turf has been laid, and additional work done on courtyard lawns
• Planter boxes in the courtyards have been freshly planted
• Window and door frames have been painted
• Retiling in the atrium
• Replacement of the theatre air-conditioning condenser unit

(Above) New look: The tiles are a nod to those used when the Pavilion was first built in 1928.

Waverley Mayor, Paula Masselos, said the community fought hard for this restoration; a restoration that has been guided by the Bondi Pavilion Conservation Management Plan (CMP) and extensive community consultation.

“I appreciate that residents have lived through a number of plans for the redevelopment of Pavilion, so I fully understand if people feel that Council hasn’t made fast enough progress,” Mayor Masselos said.

“I would like to assure the community that our restoration plans have been guided by a CMP to ensure the historic integrity of the Pavilion is maintained. The CMP is a state government requirement for the development of heritage buildings.

“Significant work is required to develop the CMP in the first instance and I am delighted that our plan was well received and approved by the government. Given this work, and the work that’s progressed since 2018 when it was approved, Council’s progress on this restoration project has been impressive.”

(Above) Rich in history: Bondi Pavilion has been an important part of the Waver community since 1928.

Once DA approval is received, Council aims to start the works in May 2020.

"We also recognise the Pavilion is much loved by the community and is seen as the de facto ‘Town Hall’ of Bondi. Many community groups and commercial business use the Pavilion’s facilities. Council will be working with all these stakeholders to ensure their needs are met during the restoration.

“Our Council is in the process of delivering a number of major projects across the LGA but our determination to restore our iconic Bondi Pavilion has never wavered.”

Once DA approval is received, Council aims to start the works in May 2020. Council is continuing to work with Pavilion stakeholders including leaseholders and finding alternatives for them.

-ENDS-