Plans revealed for redevelopment at historic former Fisher’s Ghost Restaurant site

A DEVELOPMENT application for a 10-storey apartment building and restoration works and additions to the dilapidated former Fisher’s Ghost Restaurant in Queen St is considered an “overdevelopment”.

A DEVELOPMENT application for a 10-storey apartment building and restoration works and additions to the dilapidated former Fisher’s Ghost Restaurant in Queen St is considered an “overdevelopment” and will detract from the heritage significance of the site.

Campbelltown Council has requested the applicant provide it with further information regarding the proposal for the redevelopment of the heritage listed Old Kendall’s Mill House site in the Campbelltown CBD.

The proposed development includes restoration works and additions to the existing heritage building, removal of peppercorn trees, and the construction of a 10-storey mixed use residential apartment building at the rear of the site where an unoccupied commercial building is located (formerly Domino’s Pizza and Liquorland).

The apartment building includes five commercial spaces on the ground level and 72 residential units on the upper nine-stories.

The developer has been asked to provide council with a conservation management plan and heritage impact statement.

The 1845 building, also formally known as Kendall’s Mill House or Milby Private Hospital, has been left to suffer severe deterioration since a fire damaged it in 2005.

Residents have been calling for restoration work on the historic building to stop further decay.

Campbelltown and Airds Historical Society president Kay Hayes, who also sits on the Heritage Protection Sub Committee, said the plans did not consider Old Kendall’s Mill House.

Campbelltown and Airds Historical Society president Kay Hayes.

“The proposal just swallows the old heritage building up,” Mrs Hayes said.

“In the drawings the committee saw, they are trying to consider the heritage building but had put so much on the block.

“Ideally, we would like to see the building freestanding and prominent. It desperately needs to be restored and we felt there was too much put on the site.”

Mrs Hayes was concerned about the rundown state of the historic building.

“It’s a shame the property has been allowed to get to this state,” she said.

“It is surrounded by colonial buildings and should be restored as well.

“The society takes visitors for a tour down Queen St and they just love the colonial buildings. “There is Emily’s Cottage, Quondong, Glenalvon House, and smack bang in the middle is this poor looking building.”

Liberal councillor Ted Rowell, who is the Heritage Protection Sub Committee chairman, said the planning proposal was not an appropriate outcome for the site.

“We definitely would like to see the current heritage building restored to put it back to its former glory,” Cr Rowell said.

“It has a lot of history and it would be a shame to lose it. I would rather see a commercial development rather than a residential development.

“The proposal has been considered to be an overdevelopment and would impact upon the heritage significance of the site.”

The Macarthur Chronicle could not reach the developer for comment at this stage.

More to come.