Middle Head Cafe: Owners in shock over demolition plans released for precinct masterplan

The owners of a well-known cafe have been left stunned after discovering their 10-year-old business could be demolished for a multimillion-dollar harbour revitalisation project.

Dany and Christelle Bertrand – a French/Australian couple who have operated the cafe for 10 years.

The owners of a well-known cafe have been left stunned after discovering their 10-year-old business could be demolished for a multimillion-dollar government revitalisation project.

The family-run Middle Head Cafe is fighting to stay alive following the release of the Middle Head masterplan which proposes to significantly transform the precinct with new attractions to entice visitors.

The draft plan, recently released by the Sydney Harbour Federation Trust, includes new walking tracks, heritage and indigenous learning experiences, and upgrades to the historic Middle Head barracks site.

Christelle Bertrand – who co-owns the cafe with her husband Dany – said they were shocked to discover their cafe had been left out of the master plan and had instead been earmarked for demolition.

The couple, who operate their cafe under a lease agreement with the Harbour Trust, are vowing to do everything they can to keep their doors open.

The masterplan proposes major changes to Middle Head.

“We’ve been here for 10 years and to find out the cafe could be demolished has been a big surprise for us and the community as well,” Ms Bertrand said.

“On the masterplan we’re not appearing, it’s like we don’t even exist. We’re the primary business at the headland and we’re one of the main reasons people come to the headland – to have a coffee or lunch and it’s such a nice place for them to meet.

A photo of the cafe.

“We’ve had meetings with (the Harbour Trust) and given our feedback and we’re hoping they can look at the masterplan again and change their mind.”

The masterplan shows the cafe demolition would accommodate a proposal to relocate the current changing room facilities at Middle Head Oval, which is located next to the cafe.

The masterplan states relocating the changing facility from its existing site at the western corner of the oval would “open up and enhance views” to the main entrance point to the headland.

According to the plan, there is a possibility for a cafe to be incorporated within a new heritage ‘interpretation centre’ which is planned to be created in one of the former barracks buildings.

The masterplan proposes facilities including an interpretation centre in the former Middle Harbour barracks site.

But Ms Bertrand said there had been “no guarantee” from the Harbour Trust that the cafe could form part of the centre.

“We’ve asked if we could stay where we are or relocate to a stand-alone site but were instead told there may be a possibility to be part of the interpretation centre,” she said.

“We were told we’d have to put in an application like anyone else and there’s no guarantee we’d be successful. It feels like they’re just trying to get rid of us.”

The family cafe has been a popular draw card for the visitors since, with Christelle overseeing front of house duties, while her husband Dany works his magic in the kitchen.

A photo of the cafe which overlooks Middle Head Oval.

Their two sons Sonny and Lucas, also work at the cafe which forms part of the prime parcel of harbour-front land formerly occupied by the Australian Defence Forces.

In a statement, the Harbour Trust said there were no confirmed final plans to remove the cafe as part of the current masterplan.

“As part of the draft master plan, the proposal is for potential relocation of the cafe function and to integrate it within the proposed interpretation centre,” a spokeswoman said. “The terms of lease agreements and current negotiations with the Middle Head Cafe tenants are confidential.

“If the cafe function was to relocate within the interpretation centre, the cafe tenants would be welcome to apply for a lease for the new location when that time comes.”

The masterplan includes a new walking track which would loop around the headland, along with a shorter ‘plateau walk’ circling the main entrance area of the precinct.

The Harbour Trust said public feedback on the masterplan – including the relocation of the cafe – would be considered before a final decision is made.