Athol Hall wedding venue operators plan takeover, revival of Dunbar House at Watsons Bay

A waterfront venue in Sydney’s eastern suburbs could soon be revived as a wedding and function venue as part of lease negotiations for the historic 1830s building.

The historic site has stood vacant since August last year.

The operators of a Mosman wedding venue have their sights set on the other side of Sydney Harbour, with plans to reopen a historic waterfront venue in the eastern suburbs.

Dunbar House, near Watsons Bay Wharf, could soon be revived as a wedding and function venue as part of lease negotiations for the historic waterfront building.

Built in 1837, Dunbar House has long been considered one of the eastern suburbs’s leading wedding venues with panoramic harbour views and direct access to Watsons Bay.

The venue has stood vacant since doors closed in August last year when previously operators announced the closure of the site.

The operators of the Mosman-based wedding venue Athol Hall are now in negotiations with landlord Woollahra Council to take over the lease of the site in a deal that could see thousands spent on upgrading the building.

A photo of the waterfront venue.

A Woollahra Council meeting has heard the negotiations include an initial rental of approximately $100,000 a year – down from previous $300,000 rental charged by the council.

The deal would include an undertaking for the new operators to spend an initial investment of $200,000 upgrading the venue.

The lease would then increase to approximately $150,000 from the second year. An annual four per cent annual increase would be included in the lease from the third year.

The site dates back to the 1830s.

Athol House shareholders Christopher Drivas, Jacqueline Worral and Philip Beauchamp are proposing to form a new entity to take over Dunbar House, which is currently being considered by the council pending further information.

The change in management would mark the latest chapter for the site which operated as a hotel with features including an exotic petting zoo in the 19th century.

In 1939, the former Vaucluse Council turned the hotel into its chambers, only for the council to be amalgamated to become Woollahra Council a decade later.

The Tea Room Group, which has several city restaurants, previously operated it as a high tea venue.

Lease negotiations are continuing for the site.

Woollahra Councillor Mary-Lou Jarvis has supported the revival of the venue, saying it has been a popular drawcard for local residents and visitors.

“It’s been a special occasion place for many years, and it’s previously been used for afternoon tea parties, dinners as well as weddings,” she said.

“We want to see that continue because the last thing we want is to see it stay empty.”

The operators of Athol Hall were contacted for further comment about the negotiations but did not respond to questions at the time of publication.