Parramatta: Work to begin on jazz lounge, rooftop bar, restaurants in former Westpac bank building

Work on Parramatta’s first jazz bar and its “next night time destination” is becoming a reality, with the project touted to rejuvenate western Sydney’s night life. Take a look.

The arrival of Parramatta’s first jazz bar will be housed in the grand former Westpac building.

Work on transforming an elegant sandstone building in Parramatta’s CBD into its first jazz bar is becoming a reality with the refurbishment poised to begin on what is a key project to revitalise night life in Sydney’s west.

Developers Holdmark are behind the project, which Australian Venue Co will operate as part of its foray into Parramatta.

The former Westpac bank site, built in 1938, will become a three-level venue with a jazz lounge, bars, potentially a French restaurant and a rooftop bar with panoramic views.

An adjacent modern building will sit alongside the grand sandstone structure on the 1275sq m site at 264 Church St.

A Holdmark spokesman said construction was slated to begin on June 30 and take 12 months.

Work on repurposing the former bank will begin in June.

“Two hundred and sixty four Church St is a truly striking heritage building that dominates one of the busiest retail corners in Parramatta,’’ he said.

The state government is touting it to be “Parramatta’s next night time destination”.

The venue is slated to open next year.

A spokeswoman for Tourism Minister Steve Kamper said the Parramatta CBD was fast becoming one of the state’s most vibrant night-time hubs.

“This new addition to Church St will enhance an already growing district,’’ she said.

“With the opening of Western Sydney International Airport and Powerhouse Parramatta next year, the Parramatta CBD will play an even more important role in the development of NSW’s visitor offering.’’

Business Western Sydney executive director David Borger is excited the interwar building will offer a bird’s eye perspective of the CBD from the rooftop bar.

A rooftop bar will crown the development.

“I think we have wonderful heritage in Parramatta, but often our venues are not in heritage buildings so I think it’s going to be a great place for office workers, it’s going to be a nice spot to have drinks with friends,’’ he said.

“Every city needs special places to go. I think this is going to be one of those special places.’’

The Parramatta Local Planning Panel gave Australian Venue Co the go-ahead for the project in January on the conditions that music on the rooftop cease at 11pm to “protect the amenity of the surrounding area”.

The Holdmark spokesman said the project would make the most of Parramatta’s food and dining scene.

“It is ideally suited for a food and beverage operator who can capitalise on the building’s enriching charm and presence,’’ he said.

The restaurant and bar is expected to draw locals and tourists.

This year, research from the 24-hour Economy Commission’s Data After Dark report revealed Sydneysiders were choosing to socialise at Blacktown, St Marys, Merrylands and Parramatta instead of the Sydney CBD.

Western Sydney is a drawcard for increasing numbers of domestic and international visitors. In 2024, nearly one in every five (19 per cent) domestic overnight visitors and one in every seven (15.3 per cent) international visitors headed to the region.

Around the corner from the Westpac site, Frankie B’s restaurant has plans to operate around the clock.

The owners have lodged a development application with Parramatta Council to operate the Church St restaurant 24 hours seven days a week.

The plans also include expanding by carrying out alterations and additions to two existing restaurants to create one venue to be used as a 184-seat restaurant.