Renovations start at At The Heads restaurant and cafe, Barwon Heads

A Bellarine Peninsula restaurant is about to get a $2m makeover. Here’s what will change.

At The Heads restaurant at Barwon Heads is ready for a makeover. Photo: Meg Read Photography

A well-known Bellarine Peninsula restaurant has released new images of what patrons can expect to see ahead of its $2m makeover.

At The Heads, on the Barwon Heads foreshore, is a restaurant and wedding venue, located in the historic Fisherman’s Co-op which featured as Diver Dan’s beach hut during the original ABC television series Seachange in the 1990s.

While Barwon Coast owns and manages the historic building, Sea Change Hospitality owns and operates the restaurant and cafe on a 21 year lease.

Co-owner of the restaurant Tarren Colwell said they had been planning the renovations for years, and were thrilled to finally begin this winter.

“The investments are all ours,” Mr Colwell said.

He said all the building’s colours would stay – the faded sky blue exterior, along with the dolphin logo on one wall.

The restaurant, which juts out over the Barwon River and looks out over the bluff and jetty.

“The iconic elements of the building that people know and love will be staying the same,” he said.

“From the outside not much will change so if you’re sitting on the beach, it’s just a little bit of a refresh.”

Mr Colwell said the major structural changes to the building would take place in the areas used by staff, including connecting the kitchens used by the kiosk and main restaurant, aiming to provide more space to be used for event catering.

At The Heads, Mulloway room renovations.

He said the cafe and restaurant would be closed from June 10 until late September.

“There will be new furniture, the windows will be done up,” he said.

“The majority of renovations will be to the kitchen and the Mulloway room, a small room that sits off to the side of the restaurant.

“It will be opened up so it has its own space.

“And we’re opening up the bar area for a two-sided bar area.”

Barwon Coast Committee of Management Chair Sandra Gatehouse said it is working closely with the tenant to support renovations within the existing lease area, and minimise disruption to foreshore users, visitors and kiosk patrons.

“We consulted with the community around the project last year, and are also working to ensure the community stays informed about the project as it progresses,” she said.

“As part of Barwon Coast’s commitment to protecting heritage, we are working towards relocating the historic Boot Room (currently at the rear of At The Heads) to beside the Discovery Centre Garden to reflect its maritime heritage and ongoing connection to the site as part of the project.”

Barwon Coast said while the carpark behind At The Heads would close over this time, alternative parking would be available in Lahey Square, at Frank Ellis Reserve, and at the Barwon Bluff lookout.

Originally published as Renovations start at At The Heads restaurant and cafe, Barwon Heads