61-63 Macleay Street
61-63 Macleay Street
61-63 Macleay Street
Plans to develop Wirrawa, a historic building at 61–63 Macleay Street, Potts Point, have been submitted to the City of Sydney council, nearly four years after it was sold for $13 million in May 2019. The building was previously home to the restaurant Lotus, owned by Justin Hemmes’s Merivale Group, which closed a few months after the purchase.
The landmark property was bought by investor Tony Benjamin, who has lodged a development application in partnership with White House Developments Pty Limited to renovate the building to change its use to luxury hotel accommodation. The plans also include a newly fitted basement, an extension of the ground floor and two additional levels to make room for 18 hotel suites, a restaurant, bar and kitchen.
The proposal also includes the restoration of original features such as a first-floor balcony overlooking Macleay Street and slate roof tiles. An impressive copper dome adorning the corner turret will also be restored.
It is unclear at this stage how construction and development will affect adjoining neighbours on Challis Avenue, including Bistrot 916, which currently occupies the space at 22 Challis Avenue, formerly Lotus.
The property has a rich history, having housed numerous significant Sydney figures since its construction in 1862. Order of Australia recipient and respected artist Thelma Clune ran a studio and gallery at the site from the 1940s until the 1970s. The celebrated Yellow House Gallery occupies 57–59 Macleay Street, while number 61 was leased in the ’70s to some of Sydney’s first influential French chefs, Patric and Christine Juillet, where they ran Le Café Nouveau. It was then purchased in 1988 by Merivale, which remained the building’s custodian until 2019.
The latest development plans anticipate construction and restoration to begin in June 2023 and to be completed by December 2024, at a cost of $8,987,000. Plans for the build can be viewed and are open to public comment until February 9.
The proposal aims to create a cohesive and green space, with consideration given to the preservation of the Potts Point aesthetic as well as creating a natural, lush arena. “The built form and architectural character of the proposed building will contribute to the aesthetic significance, urban character, and historical legibility of the conservation area,” the project planner said, according to the Wentworth Courier.
19 Jul 2023
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