Coffs Harbour City Council’s reno of Sawtell Hall to cost more after lead paint find

Historic Sawtell Hall is being brought back to its former glory - but the project has been dogged by challenges.

Holiday park staff Jack Moye and Al Platts. Renovation of the historic Sawtell Hall is nearing completion. Picture: Chris Knight

Renovation of the historic Sawtell Hall - a community party palace used by generations - has suffered a cost blowout largely on the back of works to remove toxic lead paint.

Coffs Harbour City Council originally budgeted half-a-million dollars to restore the historically significant building in the BIG4 Sawtell Holiday Park.

The hall has long been a gathering place and in its heyday hosted dances that drew young women and men from near and far - but in recent times the facility fell into disrepair and was unusable.

The restoration project was put to tender but original bids exceeded the $500,000 budget.

The scope of works was tweaked and the contract was awarded to Van Mal Group Construction Pty Ltd. under delegated authority of the general manager in February.

Several challenges have been encountered with the renovation.

Historic Sawtell Hall is being brought back to its former glory. Picture: Chris Knight

These include the upgrade of electrical circuits and emergency lighting, the identification and removal of lead paint, replacement of rotten floor joists, and replacement of windows that could not be refurbished.

The resulting variations pushed the project cost out to $561,648 - a number beyond the delegated approval limit of the general manager.

Sawtell Hall was once the place to be for community dances. Picture: supplied

A recommendation will be put to council tonight that the general manager under delegated authority be authorised to accept the variations.

The hall works are due to complete in a matter of weeks and park workers Jack Moye and Al Platts were onsite today doing some final touches to the exterior.

The hall interior is cavernous. Picture: Chris Knight

Mr Platts has fond memories of the building.

“Back in the day people came here to play housie at five cents a go, and all the kids would be outside on the trampolines,” he said.

The first hall at the Sawtell Reserve was constructed in 1911 but quickly became too small and was believed to have been used as a school. A second building, the current structure, was built in 1929.

While the hall has been renovated its character and charm has been preserved. Picture: Chris Knight

After the opening of the Sawtell railway in 1925, the hall boomed in popularity.

Sawtell was one of the only destinations in NSW where a train line was within walking distance to a beach.

By the end of the Second World War, Sawtell had become an established holiday hub.

More than 400 tents were pitched on the reserve by Christmas 1948, and more than 1400 people queued to attend the New Year’s Eve concert and dance in the hall.

According to a historic Heritage Assessment, the iconic structure may possibly be the earliest surviving building in Sawtell – built from locally sourced timber and iron.

The newly renovated space will serve as a multi-use social hub for events such as dances, parties, film nights and weddings.