Alex is looking safe for nowf
Image: The Alexandria Hotel as it stood in the 1930s- residents have fought to heritage list the building. Source: Harry McAsey
BY GEORGIA HING
The Alexandria Hotel is one step closer to a heritage listing after City of Sydney Council voted to approve an amendment of zoning laws to allow preservation.
The council discussed the proposal on Monday October 19.
The City will firstly attempt to extend the current interim heritage order with the Office of Environment and Heritage.
After the council formalises its vote at next week’s Council meeting, it is expected that a proposal to formally heritage list the site will be taken to NSW Planning Minister Rob Stokes.
Greens Newtown MP Jenny Leong said she was hopeful that the interim heritage order would be extended to allow sufficient time to gain a permanent heritage listing.
“We’ve seen so far that the City of Sydney and the councillors are on board with the need to protect this really important icon,” she said.
“We need to be making sure that we’re providing that heritage protection while we can put a strong case to say this local pub should be protected,” Ms Leong said.
The interim heritage order was applied on 28 July this year to safeguard the hotel from demolition by the new owners, Centennial Property Group.
However, unless extended, it will lapse in six months time.
Centennial Property Group announced the withdrawal of their initial plans to redevelop the site at a conciliation meeting in September, following strong community objection.
While this means the physical building will be safe from demolition, Ben Aveling, co-convenor of the Alexandria Residents Action Group, told City Hub the fight was not yet over.
“The interim heritage order protects the building but it doesn’t protect it as a working pub,” Mr Aveling said.
“There are still ways to develop the site for apartments that are compatible with keeping the building.”
In a speech to council earlier this year, City of Sydney Labor Councillor Linda Scott said the Alex has continued to be a vibrant, community pub throughout its long history.
“The Alexandria Hotel is an important part of our City’s heritage, as well as a meeting place for the community and it’s vitally important that we work to preserve the building for future generations.”
