Bathers Pavilion

Work has begun on restoring the historic Bathers Pavilion and North Beach precinct

Above: Current progress on the Bathers Pavilion in January 2012.

Below: Before shots and artist's impressions of how the Bathers Pavilion and surrounds will look.

An update on the North Beach Bathers Pavilion from our Lord Mayor Councillor Gordon Bradbery OAM. January 2012.

To see new images of the work being done at the North Beach Bathers Pavilion and on the Blue Mile click here.

Recently I had the opportunity to inspect the works going on and around the North Beach Bathers Pavilion. As the work nears completion I thought it would be good to share a number of facts about the project.

This is really two projects in one. The first is a continuation of the “Blue Mile” project with the repair and upgrades to infrastructure such as the pathways and lighting. The second, and the most exciting, part is the restoration and adaption of the historic Pavilion.

The “Blue Mile” piece includes replacing the failing seawall beside and in front of the Pavilion and the retaining wall behind the Pavilion which had also failed. This work also includes new stairs from Cliff Road and new access stairs to the beach.

Click here for more information

A much wider pathway, about five metres wide, has been created behind the Pavilion. This used to be the scene of congestion and near misses between pedestrians and cyclists. This is now complemented by a new pedestrian promenade that runs around the front of the Pavilion.

The works on the Pavilion involve the reuse of the northern end of the Pavilion for public amenities including lockers, showers and toilets. The centre of the building has been upgraded and will be the base for the beach lifeguards, with improved storage beneath the Pavilion for lifesaving equipment.

A restaurant and café has been built into the southern end of the Pavilion. And in keeping with modern standards access and toilets for people with a disability have been included. The public carpark has also been increased in size. Council will consider a tender for the restaurant / café in the next month.

I’d also like to share some small details which I found fascinating. In the original brickwork on the Pavilion’s curved facades, specialist heritage brickwork restoration contractors have worked in painstaking detail to ensure that the new cement used to repair cracks in the brickwork is the same colour as the original bricks. These bricks have been cleaned off using high pressure water jets.

There is extensive use of stainless steel, including the framing, fixings and fittings. This will ensure that we have a long lasting structure in the harsh marine environment. The structural posts supporting the roof in the new lockers area have been individually designed and built to align with the existing brickwork rather than cut into the original bricks, which were laid in 1938.

The attention to detail may not be noticed but they are worth sharing as this is a building which is significant to our past and for our enjoyment of our beach culture.

Despite the bad weather prior to Christmas and the issues that have arisen when working on a building – and it’s 74 years old now – on the State Heritage Register, Council is working to complete the building on time. And during earth works an archaeologist was on site to ensure any heritage items, such as parts of the old tramway and salt works, were documented and protected in place.

The final project will set a new standard for facilities for everyone at our most popular beach. So the upgraded public toilets, improved pedestrian and cycleways, a wonderful new restaurant / café and replacement of seawall and retaining walls are the key parts of this project.

There has been a lot of discussion about the amount of money Council is spending on this project. Nearly half of the cost relates to repair of basic infrastructure to allow people to access the beach and walk on the Blue Mile. The balance goes towards preserving and finding contemporary uses for a significant piece of our local heritage.

I am glad that my grandchildren will be able to enjoy the pathways, the new Pavilion, and the new restaurant and café. The high quality of the work on the Pavilion will guarantee the community has generations in which to appreciate a newly refurbished Pavilion.

Council is working hard to ensure the Pavilion will be opened to the public by the end of March and we will also plan an official opening later this year.

Lord Mayor Councillor Gordon Bradbery OAM

Breakdown of costs

These are the forecasted costs on 13 January 2012.
Total cost: $13.3 million
$8 million – Bathers Pavilion refurbishment, construction, and additional fittings such as stainless steel, and structural works
$5.3 million – cycleway / pathway, promenade, sea wall, retaining walls, landscaping, coastal protection works, consultants, contract costs, and project management.

Some background information on work around the North Beach Bathers Pavilion

History of the Iconic Bathers Pavilion

The Bathers Pavilion was built in 1938 and has significant heritage value, as a place to dress before and after ocean bathing. It was designed to accommodate the needs of 2,000 persons, and opened on 12 November 1938 in front of several hundred spectators by the Minister for Works and Local Government, E S Spooner.

Staging of the Works

Although it was originally proposed to stage the works for the Bathers Pavilion, Council has committed the additional funds required to undertake all of the proposed works now. This will minimise the impact of the proposed works on the community.

Scope of Works

With $863,000 in seed funding from the Federal Government's Regional and Local Infrastructure Program, we have embarked on the $12 million refurbishment of the iconic Bathers Pavilion to transform the historic building into a showpiece of the Blue Mile precinct.

Award-winning architects Conybeare Morrison have prepared designs and the tender for the construction is going to the Council meeting tonight for a decision.

Building Work:

extensive repairs to the building
replacement of concrete slabs affected by ‘concrete cancer.

Interior Work (Changes to Pavilion):

construction of a new viewing platform and equipment storage facilities for lifeguards
improved public amenities in the northern wing
a traditional separate male/female arrangement;
6 standard toilets and 5 showers in both male and female facilities
additional accessible toilet in both the male and female facilities.
two family friendly (larger toilet) facilities in both the male and female facilities
an accessible parent room
an accessible toilet and shower
outdoor shower area
café/kiosk in the southern wing of the building
3 metre-wide promenade overlooking the beach in front of the building.

The Landscaping Work Involves:

Removal and replacement of ageing retaining walls
construction of a new viewing platform
refurbishment of the heritage stairs leading from Cliff Road to the Bathers Pavilion.
widening the pedestrian path and cycleway at the rear from 2.5 metres to more than 6 metres
improved lighting and landscaping works
coastal protection works in front of the pavilion.

Temporary Closures

Fencing is up around the site. The following temporary arrangements are:

Pedestrians access is the alternative route along Cliff Road
Beach access is via temporary steps south of the Pavilion
Temporary toilets are located on the north side of the surf club.

The map below outlines the construction zone, detour routes and cycleway closures.

Map of Bathers Pavilion construction site

We apologise for this temporary inconvenience while we widen the pathway to make this busy thoroughfare safer and more comfortable for pedestrians and cyclists.

Expressions of Interest

In 2011, Council called for Expressions of Interest in leasing part of the North Beach Bathers Pavilion for a Café/Kiosk.

Details and Expression of Interest (EOI) documents could be obtained via Council's eTendering Portal and EOIs had to be submitted by 10am on Tuesday 13 October 2011.

For further information contact Council on 02 4227 7145.

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WOLLONGONG CITY COUNCIL ▪ Address: Wollongong City Council, 41 Burelli Street, Wollongong NSW 2500 ▪ Postal: Locked Bag 8821 Wollongong DC NSW 2500
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