Town Hall hotel passed in — mayor wants pub heritage investigation
BALMAIN’S Town Hall hotel remains on the market after it was passed in on a bid of $11 million at last Thursday’s auction. The redesign of the former pub has prompted Inner West mayor Darcy Byrne to propose council investigate what pubs need heritage protection.
Inner West
Don't miss out on the headlines from Inner West. Followed categories will be added to My News.
BALMAIN’S Town Hall hotel remains on the market after it was passed in on a bid of $11 million at last Thursday’s auction.
Owner Jon Adgemis is aiming to get about $13 million for the historic pub, built in 1879, after buying it for $7 million last year and repurposing it as a mixed use venue for gym and massage businesses. While there is still a bottle shop on site, the pub is gone.
The redesign has prompted Inner West mayor Darcy Byrne to submit a proposal for council to investigate which longstanding pubs require heritage protection by virtue of their age, community significance and architectural features.
“Conversions like this are setting dangerous precedents which, if it continues, could see the Inner West lose its heart and soul,” Cr Byrne said.
“We can’t let our famous pub culture go out the back door.”
Cr Byrne suggested finding ways of protecting internal layouts like the bar to reflect iconic venues’ historical uses and preserve their heritage value.
He applauded Mr Adgemis for his renovation of the nearby, newly opened Exchange Hotel by introducing commercial uses while preserving its legacy as a hospitality venue.
The venue has become a “new age hotel” which includes shared community work places that enable people to do some work while enjoying a meal and a glass of wine
“It’s a huge boost to have the doors of the Exchange reopened,” Cr Byrne said.
“That result, which continues the public bar and protects the character of the venue, while allowing new revenue streams to be created from other space within the property, is something that can be supported for other pubs which are having problems with commercial viability,” he said.
“What we will fight tooth and nail is the targeting of long standing pubs for the sole purpose of closing them down and converting them for commercial or residential redevelopment.”
Dick’s Hotel, also in Balmain, was put up for sale in April.
IN OTHER NEWS
Mr Adgemis’ architect Professor Ken McBryde, who has handled sensitive heritage projects including the Sydney Theatre Company redevelopment of Wharf 4/5 at Walsh Bay, said they always try to preserve the internal layout where possible but that was not a viable option with the Town Hall.
“What John Adgemis is doing is buying pubs that are for sale and not working where the owners are going to close them down — he’s not shutting them down,” Prof McBryde said.
“People who say he’s taking pubs away should go to the pub more often and then they wouldn’t be for sale.
“He’s got to find uses that will make the property worth injecting capital into to restore these heritage pubs.
“It’s about creating uses that make the pubs an enduring, long-living part of the urban fabric.
“At the moment they’re dying so what is anyone to do, leave them to die; leave them empty? I don’t think so.”