Holy crap: the cost of cleaning up 1.2 tonnes of pigeon poo

Jerry Schwartz renovates the Old Newcastle Post Office | July 30, 2021 | Newcastle Herald

Hotel mogul Jerry Schwartz has received an $18,000 bill associated with the restoration of the former Newcastle Post Office that he wasn't expecting.

The service provided was the removal of 1.28 tonnes of pigeon poo from the iconic 1903 building.

As part of their service, the poo busters provided Dr Schwartz with a series of photographs highlighting the recently cleaned surfaces throughout the cavernous building.

It is not known how the waste was disposed of.

The work was necessary for an inspection of the building by a heritage consultant, who visited last week. The heritage consultant's sign-off is necessary for a construction certificate to be issued.

Cleaned-out: A section of the recently cleaned post office building.

The clean-up came after Herald columnist Paul Scott noted relatively little progress appeared to have been made on the building's restoration since Dr Schwartz acquired it in 2018.

Owner of the civic icon Dr Jerry Schwartz said he was advised last week that contractors cleaned out 1.28 tonnes of bird droppings deposited over several decades.

It prompted Dr Schwartz to assure the Herald last week that he was committed to the building's restoration, despite a string of setbacks.

It is hoped that work to restore the 1903 building will commence in coming coming months.In addition to the pigeon poo removal, he faces a $100,000 bill to replace copper drainpipes that were recently stolen.

A further $200,000 needs to be spent repairing a section of the building's leaking roof.

The vision for the building includes an indigenous cultural centre in the basement, wedding retail outlets on the ground floor and a first floor function centre.