Plans lodged to help Awaba House rise from the ashes

Historic Awaba House is set be resurrected to its former glory, with the fire-ravaged building’s heritage facade maintained and a modern new interior fit-out to include a cafe and separate function room overlooking Lake Macquarie.

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Plans lodged this week for the waterfront site in Booragul also include a new terrace area for outdoor dining, a walkway connecting to the Museum of Art and Culture yapang and new timber decking in front of the building to provide a ceremony area for weddings and other events.

A new footpath will wind its way around the building.

Lake Macquarie Mayor Kay Fraser said she was excited to see Council take another step toward revitalising the heritage site.

“This is a landmark site that will once again become a destination for locals and visitors alike,” Cr Fraser said.

Lake Macquarie City Council Executive Manager Future City David Antcliff said the several million dollar construction project would breathe life back into one of the city’s most iconic buildings.

“These plans are about making the most of this prime location, creating a contemporary, vibrant and engaging place, while respecting important heritage elements of the building that could be restored,” he said.

“The community’s feedback was overwhelmingly positive during consultation last year, and we received some comments that helped us further improve and enhance the final design.”

The first Awaba House was built on the site in 1887, but was replaced in the late 1920s by the current building.

It was first a private home but was later abandoned and sat derelict before serving as the city’s art gallery in the late 1990s and as a restaurant and function centre until 2019, when fire tore through the site.

Pending approvals, construction is expected to start next year, with project completion scheduled for mid-2023.

Visit lakemac.com.au for more information.