Eden, New South Wales
Australia

Description of the Site

A double storey brick built hotel building with front verandas on both the ground and upper storeys and two wings projecting on the southern and northern sides. It is located in the heart of the central business district of the township. The building is set directly on to the footpath, a practice repeated in the remainder of the streetscape and echoing the tradition followed by other commercial structures in the Imlay Street Central Business District since the 19th century. An unsympathetic suspended concrete parapet was added during the 1950s. Aspects of the original 1905 parapet and associated embellishments remain in situ behind this.

A well-known and easily identifiable landmark structure in Eden’s main street for in excess of a century, the Hotel Australasia is a substantial commercial building that is a key townscape element occupying a prominent and commanding position in the Central Business District. It is one of a small number of well-built historic brick structures that contribute much to the town’s individual aesthetic appeal. Clearly recognisable in historic images of the area, it forms an essential part of the streetscape and continues to be physically important to the overall built environment locally.

A landmark in the heart of Eden for more than a century, the former Hotel Australasia was constructed 1905 for local businesswoman Sabina Pike. At that time, the search was on for the capital city site of the newly federated Australia and “Aunty” Pike, as she was fondly known, made the bold move in response to the expectation that nearby Southern Monaro would be chosen and Eden’s Twofold Bay would become its port.

Building foundations were marked out in December 1904 and the following month construction began. Built using a range of indigenous materials including bricks made from local clay and timber cut and milled in the town, it also featured pressed metal ceilings (still in situ), an arched vestibule gracing the main entrance (still in situ) and a parapet of “…a very attractive design…” (much of which remains in situ behind a later façade). The building took advantage of glorious views of the ocean, bay and hinterland (a vista still largely retained). Construction was finished in mid-October 1905 and in January 1906 the Hotel Australasia opened for business.

Acknowledged as one of the best hotels in New South Wales, it soon began attracting a clientele that included politicians and government ministers, public and vice-regal figures such as Governor-Generals and state Governors, artists and national and international sporting teams and individuals.

Originally consisting of 44 rooms including 25 bedrooms, extensions and alterations were undertaken a number of occasions, the last in the 1950s resulting in the original ornate parapet being masked by a stark suspended concrete façade.

An important local landmark since it was first constructed, Eden’s Australasia has been closely connected with much of the town’s history and is now a rare surviving structure with close links to Australia’s Federation and the search for the national capital site. The hotel’s name, stature and quality reflects a time of considerable optimism locally.

The heart of the community for generations, the Hotel Australasia continued to operate for more than a century until, in May 2010, its doors shut permanently without warning. Following this sudden closure, the property was placed on the market and was sold in 2012 to a retail development company who revealed plans to demolish the historic building and replace it with a modern supermarket complex. It was at that time that the local community became aware that it had never been included in the local or state government planning documents that protect built heritage.

Although a number of elected members of the Bega Valley Shire Council have supported community efforts to preserve and protect the former Hotel Australasia building, its future has been hanging in the balance for almost a decade and, based on the ongoing inaction, its survival continues to grow more and more tenuous.

The Threat

Sections of the elected representatives and staff of Bega Valley Shire Council by their failure to pursue proactive measures to protect and preserve the building, or enable the local community to do the same. Since purchasing the site, few measures have been undertaken to protect valuable original fabric, some of which has since been irreparably damaged and this ongoing situation currently has no change in sight.

Efforts to Save Former Hotel Australasia building

Members of the local community have made many attempts to protect the site, but have been thwarted by a number of local government representatives.

As soon as plans for its demolition became apparent, lobbying commenced to ensure the building was retained for the benefit of present and future generations. A nomination was lodged for its inclusion on the heritage schedule of the Bega Valley Shire Council’s Local Environment Plan and in March 2014, councillors voted 6-2 in favour of that option. After court action was taken by the purchasing developer seeking the right to demolish the building, the then Bega Valley Shire Councillors opted to purchase the property in 2016.

A volunteer group, Eden’s Australasia Inc., was established to pursue fundraising and grants for the restoration and repurposing of building. However, shortly afterwards, local government elections took place resulting in the return of a number of councillors who have proved entirely unsympathetic to heritage retention in favour of new development. The most recent move, a call for Expressions of Interest to purchase the property, fell through in July 2018. In the meantime, the state of the building continues to decline.

The property has been turned into a political football, with a number of elected representatives frustrating efforts by the community to further the aim of retaining and restoring the building. As a result, little has been achieved in terms of protecting and preserving the site and it has not surprisingly become a target for vandals and squatters. Members of Eden’s Australasia Inc. have also been prevented from pursuing funding assistance, accessing the building to monitor its condition or undertaking any remedial work to protect the building which, for the past decade has been steadily marching towards what can only be described as demolition by dereliction.

Who Should Be Held Accountable

Bega Valley Shire Council (current owners) and the elected local councillors, email council@begavalley.nsw.gov.au

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