Macleay St, Potts Point: $9m plans to convert Justin Hemmes’ former landmark property into hotel
The fate of a Potts Point landmark building formerly belonging to Merivale CEO Justin Hemmes has been revealed in a $9m proposal. See what’s planned for the site.
Wentworth Courier
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Developers have unveiled $9m plans to convert a landmark building formerly owned by the Merivale Hemmes family into a four-storey boutique hotel with a restaurant and bar.
A hotel proposal has been lodged to the City of Sydney Council for 61-63 Macleay St, Potts Point, which is currently home to a mixed-use heritage building called Wirrawa.
The building was formerly tenanted by Merivale’s restaurant Lotus which closed in December 2020 after Merivale Group CEO Justin Hemmes sold the landmark property to local property investor Tony Benjamin for over $13m in May 2019.
Plans lodged by White House Developments Pty Limited propose renovation to the 1930s-style building to change its use for hotel accommodation.
They also include construction of a basement level, ground floor extension and two additional storeys to allow for 18 hotel suites, 101-patron restaurant, bar and kitchen.
A planner from the project said the proposal maintained the heritage significance of the site, demonstrating a high standard of architectural design, compatible with the current streetscape.
“The built form and architectural character of the proposed building will contribute to the aesthetic significance, urban character, and historical legibility of the conservation area,” the planner said.
“Importantly, the proposal seeks to refurbish the building facade including fenestration and detailing, reinstatement of the corner turret structure including a new copper dome, reinstatement of original first floor balcony to Macleay Street, and reinstatement of original slate roof times.
“High quality landscape design has been integrated throughout the development including the inclusion of a landscaped planter to the roof of the glazed extension fronting Macleay Street.”
The proposal also plans to amend the maximum building height from 15 to 17.54 metres as well as remove the existing four units on site to make room for the luxurious hotel suites.
If approved, the hotel will be open 24 hours daily with ten hotel staff and 20 restaurant staff on shift at any one time during peak periods.
The planner from the project said the proposed development included a mix of retail and hotel accommodation uses on the site that will maintain and enhance the dynamic mix of uses within the locality.
“The proposal is designed to improve the operations of an established hotel accommodation premises,” the planner said,
“In this regard, it will attract tourism and assist in strengthening local retail and dining opportunities within the Potts Point locality.”
The site currently has two ground floor retail tenancies and four residential apartments on the upper levels with no parking facilities.
Billionaire pub owner Justin Hemmes sold the Potts Point landmark property in 2019 after his family owned the mixed-use building for 31 years.
Hemmes’ late father John Hemmes and his wife Merivale bought the property for $1.428m in 1988.
With an estimated development cost of $8,987,000, construction of the hotel is planned to start in June 2023 and expected to be completed by December 2024.
Plans are currently being assessed by City of Sydney Council and are open for public comment until February 9.
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