Preserving The Local Fare

Illawarra Mercury

Monday March 3, 2008

By JODIE MINUS

HEADLANDS HOTEL

AUSTINMER'S 1920s Headlands Hotel has not had quite as much drama as its northern neighbour at Scarborough, but any attempt by owners to develop the site have always been strongly opposed by the township and the South Coast Labour Council which imposed a green ban on the property in 1997.

In 1999, Kurrajong-based Canyork Pty Ltd bought the hotel, which includes most of the headland, for $3.1 million from Harry Beecham, who had owned the property for 18 years.

Canyork spent six years trying to turn the site into a restaurant-hotel-conference complex, and was in and out of the Land and Environment Court following fierce protests from residents. They eventually gave up and sold the hotel to present owner George Vasil for $8.1 million in 2006.

Bar manager John Ryan said there were no plans to develop the site in the near future.

"At the moment we are just going to stay trading as a pub, we have got new staff here, new food and it is going well," said Mr Ryan.

"We recently fixed up the front bar and back dining room, just a short-term fix to see how it goes, and then maybe one day we will do the whole pub."

The new chef, Jay Montgomery, serves up a mix of traditional pub grub and fresh seafood platters.

"We look after our locals, I think that's very important and it's one thing I try to do the most," Mr Ryan said.

© 2008 Illawarra Mercury

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