By Julie Power
The NSW government has started formal action against the owner of the heritage-listed Paragon Cafe in the Blue Mountains, claiming the Sydney solicitor failed to protect the 110-year-old building that lives large in the childhood memories of visitors to Katoomba.
Heritage Minister Penny Sharpe said the Paragon was an “incredibly important historical site and protected on the State Heritage Register”.
“The failure to protect this item has been devastating for those who have been hoping to see the building restored to its former glory,” she said.
The decision follows visits by NSW Heritage and council officers to the art deco cafe in Katoomba to inspect extensive damage caused by squatters and thieves to its once richly decorated interior that spans three floors, including a ballroom.
Images leaked to the Friends of the Paragon Cafe a week ago by an anonymous source showed water damage in its wood panelling, and its historic marble and mirrors were covered in graffiti.
Said to be the last of the very best of the Greek cafes that were once popular across Australia, the Paragon’s famous Moruya-marble soda foundation was graffitied with RIP. Areas where families ate the Paragon’s famous chocolate, or stopped for a milkshake, had been used by squatters and others for parties and to drink beer and take drugs.
RIP has been written by vandals on the original marble on the soda fountain bar at the Paragon cafe in the Blue Mountains.
On Monday, Heritage NSW gave solicitor John Landerer, whose company Conset Investments Pty Ltd owns the cafe, notice of its intention to issue a heritage compliance order under Section 120 of the act.
If an owner fails to comply with the order, which can include failing to carry out works in the time specified in the order, they may be guilty of an offence for failing to comply with the order or failing to maintain the premises to the minimum standard of maintenance and repair.
The Heritage Act also permits the commencement of civil enforcement proceedings against the owner requiring them to carry out works to the premises to ensure it meets the minimum standard of maintenance and repair.
Local state MP Trish Doyle said the Blue Mountains community had “given the owner time to rectify these issues but enough is enough”.
“I support the action of Heritage NSW and I hope this will lead to a better outcome for everyone,” Doyle said.
Landerer told the Herald on Tuesday afternoon that this was not a legal action taken in a court. “They are not starting an action against me, there is no court case. All that is happening is that they are issuing an order that there is work to be done. And we have to do that work. But we are doing it in discussions with them.
“I will be visiting with officers from Heritage and with Blue Mountains Council in the near future. I am happy to do that. It is agreed form of action,” he said.
“There is nothing acrimonious between me and Heritage.”
Landerer has two weeks to make representations on why the proposed order should not be given.
Members Hal Ginges, Robert Trenchard-Smith, and Heather Ginges of Friends of the Paragon, an advocacy group that has been lobbying for the restoration of the Paragon over the past six years. Credit: Photo: Dion Georgopoulos / The Sydney Morning Herald
Last June, the Blue Mountains Gazette reported that work had started on the restoration of the historic cafe in Katoomba Street, six years after it closed down.
Work stopped soon after.
A sign saying “under restoration” was graffitied to read “always was always will be under restoration”.
Rob Strange, president of the Friends, said he was alarmed that it had come to this.
“It is too important an icon to be left to die,” Strange said.
After the Herald published an article about the Paragon’s decay last week, many people shared memories of the iconic cafe.
“I remember the world’s best chocolate eclairs, amazing handmade chocolates, huge milkshakes, and beaming smiles all round,” wrote a reader.
Another said the cafe was part of the fabric of the Blue Mountains, and a destination along with the Hydro Majestic and the Three Sisters. “Surely it can be preserved?”
A third bemoaned its condition. “I went to show my kids the old Paragon building and couldn’t believe the condition it was in. Not only that building but many more once-fabulous heritage buildings just completely left with no care. I understand that it takes a lot of money to keep these buildings in tip-top shape, but the government needs to step in and make it appealing for not only tourists but for the locals to be proud of their heritage town.”
Another said, “It’s so very disappointing that this beautiful building (that holds a lot of memories for a lot of people) could be destroyed in so many ways. Surely something or someone can stop these horrible things from happening.”
Start the day with a summary of the day’s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter.