Collingwood House: Liverpool council reveals plans to turn heritage home into tourist destination

A 200-year-old colonial building has been touted as southwest Sydney’s newest tourist and wedding destination following an extensive two-year renovation.

Collingwood House is one of the oldest buildings in NSW, built in 1810. Picture: Ian Svegovic

A 200-year-old colonial building has been touted as southwest Sydney’s newest tourist and wedding destination following an extensive two-year renovation.

Collingwood House on Birkdale Cres, Liverpool was built in 1801 and recognised as one of the oldest properties in NSW after the site was heritage listed for its European and Aboriginal cultural values.

The site has undergone extensive $800,000 restoration with the new vision for the heritage home drawing inspiration from neighbouring Parramatta Council’s Elizabeth Farm – a sought after wedding destination known for picturesque gardens and heritage grounds.

Following Collingwood House’s extensive renovations, Liverpool Council tabled an activation plan during Thursday’s meeting to transform the heritage building into a multipurpose commercial, civic, educational, artistic and community destination.

According to council documents, the revamped site would reshape Collingwood House into a tourism destination and provide a source of revenue to support conservation and maintenance works.

Collingwood House is one of the oldest buildings in NSW, built in 1810. Picture: Ian Svegovic

Liverpool council has revealed plans to turn Collingwood House into a tourist destination

“It is an unique hybrid approach that is neither museum house, community meeting place or cultural venue, rather it could be a combination of each building upon the theme of a ‘meeting place’,” the activation plan states.

Liverpool mayor Ned Mannoun said opening Collingwood House would ensure “more people get to share the prestige of this historic house”.

Collingwood House recieved a major refurbishment from 2020 to 2021. Picture: Ian Svegovic

“Collingwood House is already a prized community asset and extending its availability will ensure more people get to enjoy a treasured experience,” he said.

Councillor Peter Harle praised council’s move to revamp the site as the building was “a great place and will put Liverpool on the map”.

“This has been going on for a long time and we have come a long way since then,” he said.

“There was a move to sell part of the land, but we as councillors made sure it didn’t occur.”

Collingwood House was home to Nantucket whaling captain Eber Bunker. He was known as the "father of Australian Whaling". Picture: Ian Svegovic

Council is still considering who would be the commerical manager of Collingwood House to host weddings, private functions and potentially include a cafe.

The activation plan included two operational models, including council managing the site or outsourcing an external operator to run the commercial offerings.

“Given the unique offering of the venue, demand could be regular providing the venue is well presented and managed,” council documents state.

Councillors passed a motion to seek grant funding for $30,000 for a commercial business plan for hospitality and other rental operations and receive an updated activation plan following community consultation.