General Gordon Hotel owners plan to rebuild Sydenham venue after fire
FORGET a pub with no beer - the massive fire that tore through the General Gordon Hotel has left Sydenham with a much greater problem - a suburb without a single pub.
Inner West
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FORGET a pub with no beer - the massive fire that tore through the General Gordon Hotel has left Sydenham with a much greater problem - a suburb without a single pub.
But construction could soon begin on a new hotel at the site as joint owners vow to reopen the venue bigger and better than ever.
The 1930s building was engulfed by flames just after 1pm on July 30, causing its roof to collapse along with one of the major walls.
Six people had to be evacuated from the building, which was undergoing a $4.5 million renovation.
Two months on, doors to the venue remain closed – prompting many locals to question what’s in store for the site’s future.
George Ajaka, a director of White & Partners which bought the hotel for $18.1 million in 2017, said the owners were committed to reopening the venue as a hotel.
“It’s one of the oldest pubs in the inner west and it’s always been such a popular venue — we were gutted by what happened,” Mr Ajaka said.
“We’ve had a meeting with Inner West Council and they said we’ll need to submit a new development application for the renovation works that had started at the site.
“It’s going to be a slow process but the aim is to be on site by Christmas and reopen by this time next year.”
Mr Ajaka said the renovations were part of a strategy to transform the pub into a more family friendly offering and to better match the changing demographics of the area.
The works will include reducing the size of the pub’s gaming area and building a new outdoor dining space and expanded bistro.
Despite the damage caused by the blaze, the facade of the building will be able to be retained.
There is also good news for history buffs – the exterior art deco paintings will also remain on show, albeit some worse for wear.
“Some of the paintings were damaged but we want to keep them as a bit of a tribute – fire now forms part of the historic story of the pub,” Mr Ajaka said.
Fire authorities are not treating the cause of the blaze as suspicious.
No one was injured in the incident.