2017

Community concern over the original Bondi Pavilion restoration proposal led to the creation of a stakeholder committee that guaranteed locals a strong voice. The project was a hot topic of debate in the lead-up to the 2017 local council election, at which Councillor John Wakefield became Waverley’s new mayor. He established the committee to debate what the Pavilion’s uses and functions should be. The results informed the brief given to project architects Tonkin Zulaikha Greer (TZG) for its concept designs.

Friends of Bondi Pavilion, Bondi Beach Precinct Group representatives and community members with experience in the Pavilion’s areas of use, such as music and theatre, were invited to apply to join the stakeholder committee. It was designed to ensure a balance between commercial interests and community use - something the new mayor said was missing in earlier proposals.

“The community told us they wanted Council to retain, restore and conserve the heritage of the building and improve its functionality – and we listened. Architects TZG have worked hard to weave the Pavilion’s history into any new aspects of the design, including the colonnades on the internal courtyards, the ground treatment in the courtyards and by making the atrium space a focal point for users.” He said committee members had a vast knowledge and talent base in many areas. The concept design developed in 2018 with the Bondi Pavilion Stakeholder Committee proposed restoration and conservation to retain the building as a community and cultural centre consistent with the beach heritage of Bondi that would also be fit for future needs. That vison included celebrating and developing Bondi cultures and providing a cultural hub and beach gateway that had well-resourced community spaces and was inclusive and accessible for locals: youth, creative and community.

 The committee was chaired by Wakefield and included Councillors Dominic Wy Kanak and Leon Goltsman. Community members included: Michael Cohen, Gemma Deacon, Rhonda Dixon Grovenor, Mark Gould, Terence Jenkins, Lenore Kulakauskas (Bondi Beach Precinct), Michael Lynch, Adrian Newstead, Nell Schofield, Leo Shaw-Voysey, Di Smith, Faith Wieland (North Bondi Precinct), Joy Clayton (North Bondi Precinct) and Peter Winkler.

Images courtesy Lenore  Kulakauskas and the Friends of Bondi Pavilion.