Woombye Pub’s renovation aims to honour heritage of old town

The Pub is a local heritage place, and the renovations aim to contribute positively to the streetscape. 

A PROPOSED revamp of the Woombye Hotel will turn back time if approved by the council.

Plans put forward for the century-old hotel include opening up the front verandah which was closed in with windows decades ago.

A town planner has lodged an application on behalf of Woombye Pub Holdings for an extension of the hotel. 

According to a report accompanying the application, the work will involve extending the lounge 1.5m towards the Blackall Street frontage and a refurbishment and 1.5m extension of the deck fronting Blackall Street.

“The core of the hotel still remains largely intact, however, there have been a number of unsympathetic additions and alterations occur over time, including partial enclosure of both the upper and lower decks, a painted blockwork toilet extension, and extensions of commercial buildings at the rear of the hotel building,” the report says.

The plans also include a refurbishment of the upper balcony and facade, and a new pizza kitchen and outdoor dining area in the northeast corner of the site. 

The application says the work will be in keeping with the style of the old building.

“The built form has been designed in a manner that is compatible with the historical significance of the hotel, which is a local heritage place, and will contribute positively to the streetscape. The outdoor dining area open space will be of a high-quality landscaped design, comprising timber pergolas, open grassed areas, paving, decks, feature plantings and a pizza kitchen. 

“The design will foster a family friendly environment, appeal to a range of demographics, and assist with activating the streetscape.”

Adam Diggle, national operations manager for the Norton Hospitality Group, which runs the pub, said the work the subject of the current application as part of a long-held vision for the pub.

“We’ve owned and operated the Woombye Pub for 14 years now and the whole idea around the property when we first purchased was to do this when we were in a position to do so and finally, in the last 15 months, we’ve been in a position to do so,” he said.

He said the pub was already loved but he hoped the planned work would seal its position as a hub for the town.

He hoped work could commence mid-year, pending progess with the application through the council.

However, it hit one snag on 14 February when the council decreed the application impact assessable rather than code assessable, saying the proposed changes involved partial demolition of elements contributing to the significance of a heritage place.