The lessee of the historic Campbell’s Stores at The Rocks has begun the $32m remediation and restoration of the three-storey building, one of the most historic sites in Australia.
The lessee, Tallawoladah, is initially addressing the severe deterioration of the building, reversing the decaying of the sandstone walls and replacing the roof tiling, as well as restoring the building’s distinct heritage features.
The building will be refurbished to feature restaurants, cafes, and bars in spaces to be leased, covering 50sq m to 700sq m. Moreover, the new spaces for lease will feature more extensive view corridors of Sydney Harbour and the Sydney Opera House, as well as an upgrade of the outdoor dining areas, including the replacement of the unsightly awnings.
The four existing restaurants on the site – Waterfront, Wolfies, Italian Village, and Imperial Peking – have closed to facilitate the restoration process, under the watchful eye of Property NSW.
“We are close to signing a number of high-profile restaurants from both Australia and internationally for leases, which will transform this precinct into a stunning waterfront fine-dining and entertainment destination,” said Philip Beauchamp, Tallawoladah’s principal.
Other improvements include the installation of new lifts in the building, as well as the installation of new amenities and kitchen areas to allow fine dining operations.
The Hickson Road frontage will also be modified to create a better connection to The Rocks, and provide an easier entryway to the hospitality venues in the building.
“This is a great example of where the government has been able to partner with a private sector provider to deliver a new world class visitor destination, whilst also preserving heritage assets and open space,” said Victor Dominello, the NSW minister for finance, services, and property.
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