The shout’s gone out to save the Balmain peninsula’s historic pubs as resistance brews against developers

PUBLICANS from Balmain and Rozelle are uniting in a bid to revitalise the area’s famous hotel industry and protect them against developers.

Publicans from Balmain and Rozelle gathered at the Town Hall Hotel to discuss revitalising the industry on the peninsula.

PUBLICANS from Balmain and Rozelle are uniting in a bid to revitalise the area’s famous hotel industry.

A spate of recent pub sales, which included part of one historic pub — The Exchange — being leased to a travel firm’s call centre, prompted the unprecedented co-operation.

The new owner of the Town Hall Hotel is also set to turn it into a “mixed-use” property with a pub operating on the ground floor and the rest leased out to other businesses.

Competition from small bars and a changing population -— more families with kids — has pubs finding it difficult to attract customers.

Along with bowling club managers, publicans were at a forum organised by former Labor Leichhardt mayor Darcy Byrne, running for the Inner West Council in September.

The Town Hall Hotel at Balmain has new owners.

Mr Byrne said a plan of action is being drawn up to reawaken an interest in locals, and those from outside the area, to visit the hotels.

“The group agreed that it is time for a united effort between local hotels and the Council to give the Peninsula’s famous pub sector a shot in the arm.

Part of the heritage-listed Exchange Hotel at Balmain, a pub since the late 1800s, has been turned into a call centre for a travel company.

“It is crucial the new Inner West Council and hotels work together to invest in promotion, deliver more frequent festivals and events and make the area a live music hub.”

Mr Byrne said if he is elected he will enact planning controls preventing established pubs being converted into office space or flats.

He would also support the pubs’ push for more live music and return to a “good neighbour policy” which allowed council to negotiate solutions to noise complaints rather than prosecuting venues.

The Balmain Hotel.

Warren Livingstone, a partner in the Balmain Hotel, said the ease with which small bars can gain liquor licences needed to be examined.

“We’ve also got to work together to remind residents, and those from outside the peninsula, how good these pubs are and come up with novel ways to get people back through the doors.”

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