Newcastle welcomes second luxury hotel - QT Newcastle
City of Newcastle has welcomed approval of Newcastle’s second five-star hotel following planning consent for the old David Jones building’s rebirth as a major tourism and hospitality attraction.
Part of Iris Capital’s $700 million East End Project, the 104-hotel with rooftop bar is well underway thanks to its original, stage-one approval as apartments by the Hunter & Central Coast Regional Planning Panel in 2017.
To be run by the Event Hospitality group, the boutique ‘QT Newcastle’ hotel will host up to 208 guests behind the 1880s building’s brick façade, arched windows and rendered cornices: all preserved as a condition of the original consent.
Newcastle’s Deputy Lord Mayor, Declan Clausen, hailed the regional planning panel’s green light as a much-needed boost for the City’s east.
“We welcome the Hunter & Central Coast Regional Planning Panel’s decision to accept City of Newcastle’s recommendation to approve a five-star hotel,” Councillor Clausen said.
“The hotel will breathe new life into the Hunter Street Mall.
“Work is already underway next door on more than a hundred residential apartments and retail and commercial space as part of the East End development.
“Both stages are game changers as they account for more than half the Mall.”
QT Newcastle’s approval follows the now underway conversion of the old City Administration Centre opposite Civic Park into the City’s first five-star hotel.
Work began late last year on the 136-room hotel with a rooftop swimming pool when Crystalbrook Collection took possession of the ‘Roundhouse’ after Council relocated to a new office in Newcastle West.
In the east, City of Newcastle will soon commence major capital works to overhaul Hunter Street Mall at the street level.
Bluestone footpaths, cobblestone laneways and new outdoor eating and retail opportunities are part of plans dovetailing Iris Capital’s investment to revive the area as tourism, residential and hospitality hub.
Despite sweeping coronavirus disruptions nationally, development application (DA) submissions remain steady in Newcastle, as the City’s planning team continues to treat assessment as an essential service.
“The City has seen no drop off in development proposals since public health orders slowed the wider economy and has adopted a business-as-usual approach in adherence to the isolation and social distancing orders,” Councillor Clausen added.
“The numbers show that building development remains strong and that the industry is confident about the next 12-18 months.
“This bodes well for construction jobs and gives some much needed good news given the devastating local economic impact of the NSW Planning Minister, in permitting construction seven days a week, has said the development sector will be vital in keeping jobs and investment flowing.”
