Awaba House set to reopen seven years after fire

newy.com.au – Awaba House is set for its official reopening on Friday 16 October following a $7.8 million reconstruction project, seven years after fire gutted the Lake Macquarie venue.

The cafe will open for breakfast and lunch seven days a week from Monday 19 October. The restaurant is scheduled to begin lunch and dinner services from Thursday to Sunday in early November.

Venue operator The Catering Group has completed the final fit-out and furnishing. Chief executive Greg Barclay said the opening would be staged.

“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.”

Lake Macquarie Mayor Adam Shultz is due to cut the ribbon on Friday afternoon alongside former mayors Kay Fraser, Greg Piper MP, Jodie Harrison MP and John Kilpatrick AM.

“Awaba House has been part of Lake Macquarie’s story for generations, so seeing it reopen is incredibly special,” Cr Shultz said.

The rebuild cost $6.5 million. The total project cost of $7.8 million also includes initial work to make the site safe after the fire, design, engineering, landscaping, community consultation and other project costs.

The rebuilt venue has a function room overlooking the lake, an outdoor terrace for wedding ceremonies and other events, upgraded kitchens, improved accessibility and landscaped grounds. It sits next to the Museum of Art and Culture, yapang and Sculpture Park.

The building’s facade was retained, while exposed concrete and brickwork near the entrance still show damage from the 2019 fire. A rammed earth wall is among the interior features.

Cr Shultz said community consultation, heritage expertise and architectural advice had guided the design.

“The aim was to strike a balance between retaining the building’s cultural significance and ensuring it met contemporary needs,” he said.

The current building dates from the late 1920s and is the third Awaba House. The original house was built in the 1870s and destroyed by fire in 1886. Its replacement, built the following year, was later demolished to make way for the present building.

Awaba House accommodated Booragul High School’s caretaker in the 1960s before returning to use as a private residence. It was later abandoned and boarded up, then sold to Lake Macquarie City Council in 1993.

It housed the city’s art gallery from 1996 to 2000 and operated as a cafe and function venue from 2001 until the 2019 fire.