Tabernacle’s time to shine

Curious Sydneysiders sipped cappuccinos, and nibbled on cupcakes and gourmet sandwiches, while getting their first good look last Saturday at what is bound to become one of the city’s heritage landmarks.
The City of Sydney Council held an open day to show-off stage one of the restoration and transformation of the historic Burton Street Tabernacle at Darlinghurst into the city’s newest cultural space and theatre. On completion it will become home to the Darlinghurst Theatre Company.
Council is restoring the landmark building in three stages, Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore told around 150 residents who had packed the partly renovated building.
Built as a Baptist church in 1887, the building was purchased by council in 2004 after the denomination stopped using it as a place of worship in 1996. By that stage it had fallen into disrepair, Cr Moore told residents.
She pointed out the importance of protecting the city’s heritage, while taking a swipe at the State Government’s new planning laws.
Ms Moore said heritage protection had become ‘tenuous to say the least’ since State Government wrestled control of Council’s heritage protection powers with the new legislation.
She praised the efforts of council staff and tradespeople in the restoration project.
Heads immediately tilted upward, with the restored timber ceiling capturing the attention of those attending the open day.
‘We want the community to come and look at the ongoing transformation of the historic tabernacle,’ she said.
‘The building was the source of inspiration for pavement scribe Arthur Stace’s most famous message, Eternity, which he wrote on Sydney’s footpaths for more than 30 years,’ she said.
Stage two of the refurbishment works will include upgrading plumbing, internal finishes and services, while stage three involves the design and construction of the interior as a community cultural space and theatre by 2010.

– Mick Roberts