The historic Mountain Heritage hotel at Katoomba is set to be converted into private apartments, in a planned $15 million transformation which will create 60 units.
Under the proposal, the 43-bed hotel would be converted to 17 units. But the facade of the hotel would be maintained.
A development application - now being assessed by council - would also see demolition of the functions rooms and Valley Views rooms at the hotel’s western end - nearest the Anita Villa Nursing Home - to be replaced with a new three-storey housing development of 23 self-contained residential units.
These will be stepped into the slope of the land so as not to detract from the main building, nor rob the nursing home of its views.
And 21 new two-storey townhouses would be built on Penault Avenue, opposite Anita Villa where there is currently an odd assortment of outbuildings and a car parking area.
The swimming pool would be removed and a new terraced communal space installed to take advantage of the spectacular views over the Jamison Valley. This area would have traditional landscaped gardens designed as early 20th century ornamental flower gardens reminiscent of Leura and Katoomba gardens of that period.
The owner of the hotel is overseas and could not be contacted but planning expert Max Fragar, who is managing the DA process, said the proposal reflected the latest developments in the tourism industry.
“The project aims to retain character but adapt to the changing accommodation environment, in particular the trend towards self-contained accommodation.”
The project aims to retain character but adapt to the changing accommodation environment.
- Max Fragar
Mr Fragar also said council had raised some questions about the proposal, including some design aspects.
“We are moving quickly to address those issues and we think the questions asked by council will lead to a better project.
“I commend the owner in being prepared to both move with the emerging trends in tourism and visitor accommodation but to also do a project that respects and keeps some of our history.”
The Mountain Heritage was built in 1908 by Herbert Preston, a wealthy Sydney businessman, who named it The California. During the 1920s and 30s it was regarded as the most palatial guesthouse in the southern hemisphere.
In World War 2 it was taken over by the Department of the Interior and accommodated female munitions workers at the Lithgow Small Arms Factory. In 1991, it was renamed Mountain Heritage after a major refit.