Paddington community rallies to protect heritage listed pub

By JUSTIN COOPER

Paddington locals have gathered in support of their community pub, The Village Inn, protesting a recent development application to transform the property into a retail shopping outlet.

The heritage listed Rose and Crown Hotel Paddington, known and run under ‘The Village Inn’, is one of the community’s oldest pubs and has been in operation since 1890.

However, the recent DA from fashion label, Alemais, plans to change the pub into a clothing shop and office space.

On Saturday, community action group Save The Village Inn, held a sit-in protest in conjunction with their online petition to object to the DA proposal.

The community group which formed in response to the DA, have spoken out about the pub’s significance to the community as a meeting place and apart of the areas history.

“Living room” community space

Resident of Glenmore Road Paddington and action group spokesperson, William Marshall, spoke to City Hub regarding the group’s quick response to the proposed changes.

Marshall says, “The Village Inn pub serves as a meeting place, a tourist destination, and a family-friendly venue,” explaining it fulfils its purpose for the Paddington Community.

Referring to the pub as the ‘engine’ of the ‘car’ that is Paddington, Marshal notes the building’s resilience throughout its 130 years of operation.

“Despite demographic shifts, it has adapted to changes in the local and wider Sydney community,” says Marshall.

“The hotel attracts a diverse clientele, including university students, locals, visitors, families, people attending sporting venues, single individuals, and couples of all backgrounds.”

Marshall explains that the change would heavily impact the social lives of the Paddington community, referring to the pub as their “living room” meeting space.

Furthermore, Marshall says the proposed retail space “could lead to fewer people visiting” and affect the “local ambiance” of the community.

“The proposal exacerbates the current oversupply of retail property and office space,” explains Marshall.

“The occupancy rate in Paddington is approximately 65 to 70 percent, and areas like Oxford Street, William Street, and Darlinghurst already have an abundance of vacant shops and offices.”

Marshall describes the choice of a sit-in protest is to “show the significant groundswell of support of the local community,” in addition to their petition – which already has 3,664 signatures (at the time of publication).

Concerns to meet with council  

Since the proposal was made public, Councillor Harriet Price has spoken out against the proposed change in support of the established pub. Writing to social media, Cr Price questions, “does the [intersection of Paddington] really need another dress shop?”

City Hub spoke with Cr Price on the significance of the pub within the community and plans to help support the local community pubs.

Price says that pubs are “a part of the intrinsic character of Paddington…enhancing the suburb’s character and rich history.”

“Pubs are recognised as a valuable ‘third space’, providing meeting spaces and opportunities for social connections, reciprocity and companionship. A sense of community and belonging disappears when a pub closes,” continued Cr Price.

Noting the heritage listing description of The Village Inn, as being “an enduring reference point for community identity,” herself and Cr Luise Elsing are planning to provide a notice of motion to Woollahra Municipal Council in support of established heritage pubs.

“It will be my submission that the change of use and the proposed alterations will have an unacceptable impact on the Pub’s heritage significance,” says Cr Price.

Within the notice of motion, it requests that council prepare an addendum to previous heritage studies with heritage consultants, in order to provide a “social value assessment” of the Paddington hotel.

Furthermore, the motion will request that the Mayor writes to the Minister for Environment and Heritage noting community concerns and to explore protections for heritage pubs.

The notice of motion is expected to be introduced and discussed at the Woollahra Municipal Council meeting on Monday night.

At the beginning of August, the DA was provided by Alemais to Woollahra Municipal Council, planning to alter the building inorder to open a high-end retail outlet.

The DA has noted that their plan would make “alterations and additions” to the building’s exterior, aiming to “change of use from Hotel/Pub to retail on the ground floor” and offices on the first and second floor.

Whilst the DA is yet to be approved, it is expected the Woollahra/Paddington community will continue to object the plans in favour of the be-loved pub.