After two years of extensive heritage restoration works the Bondi Pavilion will reopen to the public on 21 September.
The $48 million restoration includes an updated art gallery, flexible cultural spaces including the new Bondi Story Room digital heritage space, a welcome centre and box office, two dining venues; larger Pottery Studio including a second kiln and new toilets, showers and a family and accessible bathroom and change space. All other existing rooms inside the Pavilion have also been refurbished and upgraded.
Features outdoors include landscaped internal courtyards, a new grand entrance to the north and creating additional east-west connections through the Pavilion, better connection from Campbell Parade to the beachfront, terracotta roof tiles in the original 1928 cordova pattern and 220 solar panels that will power 70% of the building’s energy needs.
Mayor of Waverley, Paula Masselos said Council’s restoration retained the Pavilion as a community hub and cemented its place as a leading arts and culture venue showcasing leading artistic and creative programming.
“We are delighted to welcome back the community to our beloved Pavilion and for the public to discover and explore all that it has to offer, not just on opening night, but for years to come,” Mayor Masselos said.
Head contractor Buildcorp Managing Director, Tony Sukkar AM said the team had enjoyed delivering creative solutions to bring the Pavilion’s new spaces to life while conserving its many heritage features.
“Alongside our sustainability initiatives, we have created community connections and opportunity during the build, adding to the positive legacy of the project,” he said.
Lead architect, Peter Tonkin of Tonkin Zulaikha Greer Architects, said designing the Bondi Pavilion restoration was among the most inspiring projects of his career.
“The Bondi Pavilion is a fine example of how an old building located in a hostile coastal
environment can be reimagined through ingenuity and innovation in design,” Mr Tonkin said.
For more than 90 years, the Bondi Pavilion has been a central part of life for residents and visitors to Bondi Beach.
The Bondi Pavilion all-ages community launch will be held at 6pm on Wednesday 21 September and include a concert in the courtyard, pop-up exhibitions and activities throughout the building and food and beverage offerings.
