End of era for Redcliffe’s historic Suttons Beach Pavilion

An iconic beachside pavilion on Brisbane’s bayside foreshore will be demolished this year forcing the closure of a popular restaurant, bar and wedding venue.

An iconic beachside pavilion on Redcliffe’s foreshore will be demolished this year forcing the closure of a popular restaurant, bar and wedding venue.

The Suttons Beach Pavilion, known for its 1937 art deco structure, is owned by Moreton Bay Regional Council and is leased out for a fish and chip shop, a restaurant, cafe, wedding venue and bar.

The shock demolition plan and closure of the restaurant at the end of February was discussed when restaurant owners Oli and Sandra Thomson met with a council officer last week.

Mr Thomson said he had to cancel dozens of bookings for the prestigious beachside function rooms.

The council said its officers had told Mr Thomson last year his occupancy would end in February and he should not have made any advance bookings beyond that date.

End of an era as demolition plans revealed for historic Suttons Beach Pavilion at Redcliffe.

“It would have been our fifth birthday on February 15 but now I have no clue as to what our plans will be,” Mr Thomson said.

“Our priority is finding jobs for our staff. We have invested everything we had in this business and now, at 44, I will have to go and find another job.”

Some of the customers he had to turn away were Redcliffe residents Anton Cavalli, who has battled cancer, and his fiancee Bec, who met at the pavilion and were to hold their wedding night dinner there.

The historic bandstand at Suttons Beach Pavilion is likely to remain.

Moreton Bay Regional Council said the building was too expensive to maintain to a safe standard and disputed Mr Thomson’s claims that he had not been warned about the demolition.

A council officer said the business had used polystyrene in its walls and there were hygiene concerns.

Mr Thomson said the two claims were “categorically untrue”.

Council chief executive Greg Chemello said the “nominal” rent collected and the high maintenance costs of the buildings did not make the pavilion a viable asset for the council to maintain.

He said the council had made the difficult decision to demolish the pavilion to reinvigorate the area and open up the space to the community for a variety of purposes.

He also said Mr Thomson was advised on February 25, 2021 of the decision not to renew the lease when it expired on November 27.

End of an era as demolition plans revealed for historic Suttons Beach Pavilion, pictured here around 1959.

“Council commissioned independent consultants to complete structural inspections of the complex,” Mr Chemello said.

“These investigations found extensive building defects due to age, construction issues and proximity to the foreshore, confirming the buildings are nearing their end of life and experiencing an accelerated rate of deterioration, leading to safety concerns.”

Plans to make the site safe and return it to a public space are underway and a development application for the demolition will be in February.

Mr Chemello said the council had refrained from releasing details of the demolition so Mr Thomson could continue to trade over Christmas but further lease extensions were out of the question.

Council officers will meet with Mr Thomson tomorrow to discuss the closure of the venue.

This original 1937 Art Deco Bathing Pavilion is the only venue of its kind with direct access to the beach in the Brisbane area.

It offered meals of local, fresh, seasonal produce for breakfast, lunch, dinner and takeaway.

Originally published as End of era for Redcliffe’s historic Suttons Beach Pavilion