Redevelopment of The Rezz at Paradise finally gets green light
After 15 years and multiple attempts, two brothers are finally achieving their ambition to redevelop a hotel built by their parents in the 1960s — The Rezz in Paradise. SEE THE PHOTOS.
North & North East
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The long-awaited redevelopment of the “Rezz” is finally going ahead, with its owners securing finance for a multimillion-dollar rebuild.
Owners Fred and Richard Hamood have been trying for more than 15 years to bulldoze the pub – formerly called the Reservoir Hotel – on Hamilton Tce, Paradise.
The brothers scrapped a plan several years ago to build a $14 million five-storey complex when they were unable to secure finance.
They also encountered difficulty when a land swap deal with the State Government fell through.
The deal would have seen them move the hotel from Hamilton Tce opposite the Thorndon Park reservoir to a former Transport Department depot on Gorge Rd.
They have now obtained planning approval for a single-storey building which will feature restaurants, bars and a gaming room.
Richard Hamood said the project’s first stage would involve demolishing most of the existing hotel, built by his parents on the site of the original Reservoir Hotel.
“Stage one will see a rebuild of the current hotel with a better orientation,” Mr Hamood said.
“We’re going to improve the carparking and the efficiencies of how the property is used.
“The second stage will be the construction of a wedding and function centre and further down the track we will look at accommodation.”
Mr Hamood said it had been difficult securing finance for the original project, which involved new restaurants, bars, 300-seat function centre and 80 hotel rooms.
“Getting it across the line has been hard in the current lending market,” he said.
“We would have loved to have the whole lot but the handcuffs on the banks since the Royal Commission have been really tight.
“They don’t have the ability to lend like they did.”
Fred Hamood said the new-look Rezz would continue its focus on Mediterranean-influenced food and fine wine.
The former owner of the Dulwich Cellars said there would be a tapas bar, al fresco dining, cafe and fine dining restaurant.
“We’ve never wanted to be known as a hotel, that’s why we called it the Rezz,” he said.
“You can go and get a schnitzel and a beer anywhere. We have always wanted to offer something different.”
The original Reservoir Hotel was built beside Gorge Rd in the 1850s, largely for workers building the Thorndon Park Reservoir.
Gorge Rd subsequently was realigned, leaving the Reservoir Hotel on a new road, Hamilton Tce, and cut off from passing traffic.
Work on the new-look Rezz is due to start in January with completion by Christmas next year.