In the centre of Australia’s most famous beach sits an equally iconic structure, the Bondi Pavilion.
The art deco building houses cafes, a bar, a theatre and change rooms. It’s used for community activities such as yoga, meditation, band competitions and arts and crafts as well as having a bar area upstairs that can be hired out.
But Bondi’s grand old lady is undeniably a little tired. That’s about all people agree on.
Over the past four years Bondi Pav has been at the centre of a fierce debate. It has been eyed by developers who see the potential on its first floor for restaurants and bars with views to die for, and jealously guarded by locals who view it as the public heart of their community.
There have been shouting matches in council between angry locals who regard it as Bondi’s de facto town hall, and the former Liberal mayor Sally Betts, who viewed it as an embarrassment to the tourism credentials of Bondi.
So when the former council proposed a $40m refurbishment, and refused to guarantee that commercial spaces would be capped at 50%, all hell broke loose in the usually laid-back beachside community.
Many locals suspected a secret plan to turn the first floor into restaurants and bars with million-dollar views and equally hefty prices.
Rallies starring Bondi’s famous artists, musicians and actors became a regular occurence. In the end, a more modest “phase one” plan was approved and construction was due to start.
But now the new Labor-Greens council has put plans on hold and is asking the community what it really wants.
How does the council balance the needs of tourists and the broader Sydney population with the locals’ passion for their community centre in a city where public spaces are increasingly under pressure?
Betts was right when she labelled the change facilities inadequate. The Heritage Council of NSW has complained often about the plastic bubble on the front which houses the popular bar, The Bucket List. And there really isn’t much for tourists to see other than a nice beach when they visit.
The new mayor of Waverley, John Wakefield, has moved swiftly.
“This new chapter will see the creation of the Bondi Pavilion stakeholder committee which will comprise a total of 12 members,” he says.
He will be calling for applications as well as inviting the Save Bondi Pavilion group, the local precinct committee and three councillors to participate.
One of the issues is how to fit the competing demands into the old building. Items on the wish list include: new change rooms and facilities; a possible museum of surfing; as well as continued use of rooms for dance groups, yoga and music. Many also want to keep the two internal courtyards intact, and the council needs to preserve the revenue it gets from the existing cafes and bars.
Yet the space inside the building is limited.
One option is to scrap plans to expand the change rooms and build an unobtrusive new block underneath the Bondi carpark and lawns, with access from the promenade, similar to the structure that has just been completed at nearby Coogee.
There is also still a question mark over whether the theatre needs to be made bigger. Wakefield says he would like to see if it’s possible to uncover the original murals of Spanish dancers in the old ballroom, which are now covered by the theatre’s raked seating.
“The building itself has some heritage-listed elements, but it’s the cultural heritage which is of greatest value, and that’s what I would like to see preserved.”
He says it’s now up to the community and broader stakeholders to come up with a list.
“This group will be tasked with prioritising the required and desired uses of the Pavilion and the artistic direction of the Pavilion in the future. It’s expected that membership of the group will be confirmed in November, with a series of workshop meetings to take place over late November and early December.
“Depending on an appropriate development consent being given in time, I hope we can begin construction in the winter of 2018,” he says.
“Refurbishing and upgrading Bondi Pavilion in line with community wishes is one of council’s highest priorities.”
