Parramatta’s Albion Hotel site unit plan progresses after council debate
A towering apartment complex in Parramatta will be the death knell for a 138-year-old ‘happening’ pub in a city that cannot afford to lose another pub, critics say.
Parramatta
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A double-tower project that will spell the end of the established Albion Hotel at Parramatta is creeping closer to final approval but opponents say the ‘overdevelopment’ will smash the city’s ailing night life even more.
Under the proposal, the 138-year-old hotel will go and operate as a wine bar on the street level next to a restaurant and function space while the other tower will house 405 units, 36 apartments for seniors, a cinema, billiard rooms, indoor bowls and another wine bar over 51 storeys.
Parramatta Labor councillor Donna Davis warned the city would be losing one of its most lively venues if the development was approved by the state government.
“When you walk past the Albion on a Sunday night, on a Saturday night, the music is happening, it’s a happening place to be, it’s a popular place, it’s a destination,’’ she said.
“Now the people that are building this new, fandangled apartment block on this site are saying that they are going to build another pub but we know it’s not going to be the same.’’
Cr Davis warned other businesses in Parramatta’s CBD with apartments nearby had suffered setbacks because of noise restrictions and feared the wine bar would follow the same fate.
“We are wanting to build a night time economy, we are wanting to have a city that is alive but the Albion is one place in this city that is already alive,’’ she said.
“I know it’s very far down the track but it needs to be mentioned, it needs to go on the record that this city cannot lose another stand-alone pub like this one.
“Generations have had wonderful memories from that place (the Albion) and I know this development is way down the path but it needs to be said and it needs to be prevented from happening on other sites.’’
The PIC Royal Investments designs for 135 George St and 118 Harris St were originally planned to reach 54m but leapt to 166m, or 51 storeys.
Greens councillor Phil Bradley deemed the “unlimited commercial” proposal an overdevelopment and that it would overshadow Robin Thomas Reserve opposite it.
But Liberal Steve Issa said councillors Davis and Bradley endorsed the CBD Planning Proposal which permits such heights for this in Parramatta.
“I’m not sure what message they want to send those that are investing in our city,’’ he said.
“It beggars belief.
“I love a pub just as much as the next Aussie and I’m not sure this is about losing pubs.’’
The original Albion Hotel was established in 1882 before it was demolished and rebuilt in 1924. The Solomon family acquired the pub in 1986.
Parramatta Council endorsed the project, which will ultimately be approved or rejected by the NSW Planning Department, at its March 22 meeting.
As well as councillors Davis and Bradley, councillors Andrew Wilson, Benjamin Barrak and Patricia Prociv opposed the proposal but it was outvoted after councillors Andrew Jefferies, Bill Tyrrell, Martin Zaiter, Michelle Garrard, Pierre Esber and Sameer Pandey supported it.
The green light means the project will soon go on public exhibition before returning to the council, which will again debate whether it will proceed to the state government.
The 3135sq m development will set next to the former Cumberland Newspapers site where Dyldam is planning an even larger complex of 960 apartments over three towers as high as 60 storeys.
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