The Paragon Cafe, with its soda fountains, waffles and chocolates sold in boxes adorned with an image of Orphan Rock and art deco interior, could be a time capsule of the days when Katoomba was Australia’s honeymoon capital.
Once one of the most famous buildings in the Blue Mountains and perhaps the crowning glory of many Greek restaurants scattered across regional NSW, it was pivotal to many generations’ experience of the region.
The 1920s-perfect landmark went into genteel decline in the 1950s, along with much of Katoomba, and was accorded NSW heritage listing 11 years ago, only to close three years later.
Since then, it has been sacked by vandals and tragically fallen into neglect.
The Herald’s Julie Power reports the NSW government is considering compliance and enforcement options, including court action, to force the Paragon’s owner, John Landerer of Conset Investments Pty Ltd, to ensure the premises are maintained to a minimum standard as required under the NSW Heritage Act.
This followed the issue of two orders last year and a subsequent inspection by a new compliance unit, the Biodiversity and Heritage Regulator.
The owner has the right to appeal against any order.
But the Paragon’s state of disrepair is indicative of the fate of many buildings and structures that tell stories of NSW’s past for present and future generations.
Preserving heritage is costly. State governments have been steadily boosting Heritage NSW grants for years, but the money has not kept up with the damage. Cash-strapped authorities and owners of historically important properties have been rendered powerless by time, rising damp, neglect and vandals.
What’s to be done?
Philip Vivian, managing director of architects Bates Smart, suggested lottery funding for heritage buildings as used in the UK could support the adaptive reuse of NSW buildings and provide benefits to the public.
“The climate crisis makes it imperative for humankind to cut carbon emissions … it’s more important than ever to preserve or adapt our heritage buildings,” he said. “Governments in NSW have many under-utilised heritage assets which could be brought back into public use.”
The UK Heritage Fund has raised $94 million since 1994 courtesy of a national lottery and funded the restoration of Stonehenge, castles, pubs, museums and gardens. The money is used for heritage projects only and does not support private individuals or provide funds to projects receiving other support.
NSW is no stranger to using lotteries for public assets. Sydney Opera House and the Harbour Bridge would not exist today except for popular public lotteries that sold millions of tickets to support their construction.
The decline of Katoomba’s famous art deco properties, including the Paragon Cafe, is well known. But the Paragon was one of its great jewels, and its parlous state highlights the difficulties with preserving such treasures.
The NSW government is due to release its new heritage policy next month. Submissions included calls for more funding for conservation and enforcement. But NSW is financially strapped. Using a lottery to fund heritage work is an idea whose time may have returned.
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