Lake Macquarie icon Awaba House will mark a new chapter in its colourful history on Friday afternoon when five past and present mayors cut the ribbon on its rebuild.
Lake Macquarie Mayor Adam Shultz will join former mayors Kay Fraser, Greg Piper MP, Jodie Harrison MP and John Kilpatrick AM to celebrate the venue's reopening, seven years after it was gutted by fire.
Mayor Adam said the building's rebirth as a premier dining and events destination marked an important milestone for the city and a proud moment for everyone involved in its reconstruction.
"Awaba House has been part of Lake Macquarie's story for generations, so seeing it reopen is incredibly special," he said.
"This project honours the building's heritage, but it also creates a vibrant new destination for residents and visitors to enjoy."
"Having four former mayors join us for the official reopening recognises the many people who have contributed to Awaba House throughout its history, and highlights the significance of this moment for our city."
The rebuild cost $6.5 million, with a total project cost of $7.8 million, including initial work after the fire to render the site safe, design, engineering, landscaping, community consultation and other major project costs.
The revitalised venue features a function room overlooking the lake, an outdoor terrace for wedding ceremonies and other events, upgraded kitchen facilities, improved accessibility and landscaped grounds.
Internal features include a striking rammed earth wall, and an exposed section of concrete and brickwork near the building's entrance that still shows the scars of the 2019 fire.
Mayor Adam said the venue, next to the Museum of Art and Culture, yapang and Sculpture Park, would become a key destination for weddings, celebrations, corporate events and dining.
"Awaba House will attract visitors, support local jobs and businesses and further strengthen Lake Macquarie's reputation as a destination to live, visit and invest," he said.
Venue operator The Catering Group has completed the building's final fit-out and furnishing.
CEO Greg Barclay said he felt "a real sense of responsibility" with taking on a venue like Awaba House.
"It has such a strong connection to Lake Macquarie and the local community, so our focus has always been on respecting that history while creating something that feels relevant, welcoming and exciting for the future," he said.
"What excites me most is that this is only the beginning. We're launching the cafe first, then building into the full restaurant and events offering. We want Awaba House to continually evolve rather than simply opening the doors and saying the job is finished."
The building's revival adds to almost 160 years of history for the site, starting with construction of the original Awaba House in the 1870s, just a few metres south-west of the current iteration, which became a home for Margaret and William Quigley and their four children.
Fire destroyed the house in 1886, a second Awaba House was built the following year, and that house survived until being demolished to make way for a third Awaba House in the late 1920s.
That building – the one whose facade was retained in the most recent revamp, housed Booragul High School's caretaker in the 1960s.
It returned to being a private residence in the 70s and early 80s and was then abandoned and boarded up before being sold to Lake Macquarie City Council in 1993.
It operated as the city's art gallery from 1996-2000, then as a cafe and function venue from 2001 until the 2019 fire.
Mayor Adam said extensive community consultation, along with heritage and architectural expertise, guided the reconstruction project's design.
"The aim was to strike a balance between retaining the building's cultural significance and ensuring it met contemporary needs," he said.
"I'm so excited with the result and I'm confident the community will share this view. I look forward to seeing it return as a major tourism, dining and cultural drawcard for many years to come."
The Awaba House cafe will open seven days a week for breakfast and lunch from Monday. The restaurant will operate Thursday-Sunday for lunch and dinner from early November.
Go to awabahouse.com for venue information and bookings.
