Inside plans for cafe, restaurant at Gympie Uniting Church

An iconic inner city site on a busy arterial has been pitched to the Gympie council to be developed into a dining experience capable of running seven days a week. Read the details of the project.

A surprise new development has been pitched for the Gympie Surface Hill Uniting Church site, with council approval sought for a restaurant and cafe at the Channon St property.

The Trustee for the D and C Bernard Self Managed Super Fund wants to renovate the inside of the old church hall building and the Surface Hill Uniting Church, transforming them into a dining experience capable of running seven days a week.

Changes include installing mens’, women‘s’, and unisex toilets inside the hall and converting the existing stage and hall space into a kitchen and small dining area.

Renovations to the inside the Surface Hill Uniting Church building would involve removing the chancel where the choir was situated and evening out the floor.

The proposed renovations include a covered outdoor dining area.

Eleven tables would be put in the seating area and the pews would be used as long bench seats.

A small bar would be installed between the organ and the seating area.

The organ and its housing would remain untouched.

Disability access to the buildings would be improved and a covered wooden deck be built as an outdoor dining area.

Floor plans for the proposed renovations reveal how the cafe and restaurant would be laid out next to the church.

The new cafe would not be run as a nightclub or bar.

The developers said they wanted to open the cafe daily at 6am for breakfast; alcohol would be available from 10am and the eatery would be able to cater for lunch and dinner.

The application has been lodged, and is now being assessed by Gympie Regional Council’s planning department.

The Surface Hill Uniting Church in Gympie.